MUSHROOM ENEMIES 



insects occur in the manure, but with a 

 proper treatment of materials and control 

 of conditions they are seldom a serious pest. 

 They attack the mushrooms primarily 

 through the region of the gills, or gain an 

 entrance from injuries, and a ^'flush'* of 

 mushrooms may be completely destroyed in 

 two days. The best practical remedy is to 

 ventilate thoroughly and dust the beds and 

 floors with quick lime. Pyrethrum powder 

 is serviceable if the conditions are not too 

 wet. A spray of lysol, 2 to 2J/2 per cent, 

 is also effective, but cannot be applied with- 

 out some injury to the growing mushrooms. 

 Sowbugs. The common gray crustaceans 

 of the woods and greenhouse, a ''bug" 

 fully a half-inch in length, and elliptical in 

 outline, commonly known as sowbugs or 

 woodlice, are sometimes brought in with 

 the manure, or permitted to multiply in rub- 

 bish left in the houses. They eat into the 

 mushrooms as would snails or mice, and a 

 relatively small force of them may destroy 

 many pounds of buttons. To a certain ex- 



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