44 MUSHROOM GROWING AND SPAWN MAKING. 



from animals which were fed a poor diet, such, for instance, as 

 grass or hay alone, is much less valuable than where the animals are 

 well fed. The experiments in beds Nos. 10 to 2'2 Avere designed to 

 test the value of some different feeds. The writer was fortunate in' 

 being able to secure manure from work animals which were being 

 used in feeding tests where very difl'erent foods were employed. 

 Unfortunately, however, the mushroom beds were located next to a 

 basement wall, and in beds Nos, 14 to 21 the results were vitiated by 

 the fact that there was considerable seepage water in that region 

 during the thaAVs and heavy rains of the sj^ring. Nevertheless, it is 

 believed that the experiments in beds Nos. 8 to 13 are trustworthy. 

 .Vn attempt was made to check these residts by using some of this 

 manure in tube cultures, and it was found that the manure used in- 

 beds Nos. 8, 9, 10, and 11 particularly was unfavorable for the 

 groAvth of the mycelium even in the pure cultures. 



On account of its stimulating action upon the spores of Agarieus 

 campestris a small quantity of ammonium molybdate was applied 

 to one bed. No. 37, in order to test its effect upon the growing- 

 mycelium. Moreover, since certain salts of zinc at considerable dilu- 

 tion have been found to increase greatly the (juantity of mycelium 

 produced by other fungi, zinc nitrate was employed in an adjacent 

 experiment. The results of these two tests were the same. There 

 Avas a profuse mycelial development and an abundant production of 

 small deformed sporophores. 



Table X also summarizes a series of some interest. These beds were 

 spaAvned early in NoA^ember, 1904. Soon after the spaAvn began to 

 spread throughout the beds — about December 15 — the temperature 

 of the room fell to 40° F. From that time on until March 1, 1905, 

 the temperature Avas constantly beloAv 52°, and on seA^eral occasions 

 as loAV as 32° F. After Iavo or three Aveeks of Avarmer Aveather the 

 beds began to bear vigorously, and the nmshrooms, particularly the 

 first ones, Avere of unusual size and of excellent flaA'or. Numerous 

 individuals Aveighed from d to 8 ounces immediately after the se]:»a- 

 ration of the ring, and a fcAv mature specimens ranged from 10 to 14 

 ounces. 



