58 MUSHKOOM GEO WING AND SPAWN MAKING. 



siio-o-estofl for the common types of Agaricnis eani jyestrk in culture 

 have also come into use. It is certain that these names, Alaska, 

 Bohemia, and Columbia, designating respectively a white, a brown, 

 and a more or less cream-gray form, do not include all forms in 

 cultivation. Until a careful study has been made of varieties, how- 

 ever, this nomenclature will enable spawn makers to keep in mind 

 certain types, and will make it possible for growers to ask for a 

 spawn yielding a color demanded by their special markets. 



THE VITALITY OF MUSHROOM SPAWN. 



Many of the early experiments in nnishroom growing undertaken 

 by the writer were made in the hope of being able to ascertain the 

 more frequent causes of failure and some of the chief difficulties 

 encountered by American mushroom growers. 1'he ordinary com- 

 mercial spawn used by amateurs, that is, such as is obtainable upon 

 the market during the winter months, Avas purchased wherever possi- 

 ble. Samples of this spawn were placed under conditions which were 

 supposed to Ix' most favoral)le for growth. Nevertheless, in the 

 majority of cases there was no indication of the development of a 

 new mycelium from the bricks of spawn thus obtained. From these 

 results it was suspected that much of the spawn which reaches the 

 amateur grower may be consideral)ly injdred, or even killed, by 

 transportation or improper conditions of storage; for it must be sup- 

 posed that most of this s])awn is in good oi- at least fair condition 

 when exported from Europe. 



Subsequently the writer was abk> to look into the matter of spawn 

 making in Europe and P'rance, and he was convinced that the diffi- 

 culty of securing good spawn in England is not a very serious factor. 

 The same is true witli reference to the material which is obtained by 

 both extensive and small growers in France. 



Special importations of some of the commercial English and 

 French spawns were made, and this was packed, shipped, and stored 

 under conditions as favorable as may ordinarily obtain. This sj^awn 

 was imported during midwinter and stored until March or early 

 April, when it was used in spawning some experimental beds. The 

 conditions of the experiments were practically the same throughout, 

 yet in not more than half the beds was there a favorable development 

 of mushroom spawn. A distribution of the French spawn, both the 

 commercial flake and the improved cake spawn, Avas made to several 

 prominent American growers. Some of these growers experienced 

 entire failure, while others reported that, after a slow beginning, beds 

 spawned with this material made a good yield. The general conclu- 

 sion, reenforced by observation and by the experience of' practical 

 growers, could only be that a large percentage of loss in mushroom 



