MUSHROOM GROWING 



the pliability, and the uniform brown color 

 of the straw. Commonly the temperature 

 declines to about 120° or 130° F. As soon 

 as the compost is ready it is desirable to 

 make the beds and to have the spawning 

 follow as promptly as possible, as subse- 

 quently shown. 



It is, of course, preferable to have the 

 compost made under cover when this is 

 feasible, particularly if prepared during 

 mid-summer or during freezing weather. 

 It should also be stated that manure which 

 has been piled in a barn lot or otherwise 

 subjected to leaching will have lost much of 

 its value. In short, never use for compost 

 anything but the best fresh stable manure, 

 and thus you will eliminate many difficul- 

 ties. 



The quantity of compost required. The 

 practical grower should be able to compute 

 in a fairly accurate manner the quantity of 

 manure he requires for a certain area of 

 beds, assuming that beds of the usual depth 

 are made. I estimate that a full (coal) car- 



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