the growing period 

 The Growing Period 



Under favorable conditions a bed of 

 straw-manure compost should come into 

 bearing in from six to eight weeks, and one 

 must begin to look for the source of the trou- 

 ble if after ten weeks there is no sign of fruit- 

 ing. On the other hand, if shaving-manure 

 compost is employed, the beds may bear in 

 eight weeks, but it is just as likely that twelve 

 weeks will be required. In the same way, 

 even with the best spawn, the growth will 

 be slow if the manure is inadequately fer- 

 mented, if the temperature is low, or if the 

 moisture conditions are unsatisfactory. In 

 those instances where ''green" spawn is 

 used a small mushroom or two may arise 

 directly in about three weeks from the 

 piece of spawn inserted. This is not a de- 

 sirable occurrence, and such mushrooms are 

 small of body and of less commercial value. 

 At 58° to 60° F. the bed will come into bear- 

 ing, as a rule, earlier than when kept at 

 54°, but with other factors equal, the length 



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