MUSHROOM GROWING 



water content of about 65 per cent., a quanti- 

 tative statement which means much less for 

 practical purposes than the hand test. 



The beds must be observed from day to 

 day with regard to temperature, since it is 

 often well to spawn them as soon as the tem- 

 perature will permit. For a few days after 

 the preparation of the beds the temperature 

 may rise, but if so, it will promptly decline 

 again. Spawning should not be carried out 

 until there is a fall to 70° or 75° F. ; in fact, 

 spawning at 75"" F. is permissible only when 

 the temperature is unquestionably declining. 

 My recent tests indicate that 65° to 70° F. is 

 generally preferable when one is prepared 

 to maintain during the growing period a 

 temperature of 55° in the houses. It does 

 no harm to spawn at 50° to 65° F. ; but be- 

 low 50° growth will be very slow. In some 

 earlier mushroom guides certain growers 

 have advised spawning at 85° to 90° F. 

 This temperature is fatal if maintained for 

 some time. 



Often, one finds that while waiting to 



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