336 Report of the Hoeticultdrist of the 



Care was always taken that the surface of the bed should not get 

 dry. When the bed was watered care was taken not to put on so 

 much water that it would soak through into the manure below. 



The excelsior was rolled back so as to uncover the bed and the 

 water was applied with a syringe, having a fine rose, after which the 

 excelsior was returned to its place. The excelsior was some- 

 times sprinkled to check evaporation from the surface of the bed 

 and to help in keeping it moist. 



Nitrate of Soda. 

 After the beds began to bear they were watered twice a week 

 with nitrate of soda dissolved in water, at the rate of an ounce to a 

 gallon of water. It was applied in a fine spray in sufficient quanti- 

 ties to moisten, but not to soak, the surface of the bed in the manner 



above described. 



Second Casing. 



When the beds were past full bearing and the production of 

 mushrooms was on the decline, they were coated over again with 

 fine mellow loam to the depth of half an inch or more. This second 

 coating is simply pressed or pounded lightly so as to make the soil 

 compact. In watering this coating the customary caution was used 

 so as not to put on enough water to soak through into the manure 

 underneath. After being treated in this way the beds frequently 

 bear a considerable quantity of mushrooms before they become 

 exhausted. 



•5t * * * ^ ^^ 4fr 



The foregoing account has not been given with the idea that it is 

 the only way mushrooms can be successfully grown in green-houses 

 but simply to set forth somewhat in detail one method which has 

 been successfully followed. As indicated below the details may be 

 varied somewhat to suit circumstances. 



Mixing loam with manure. — In preparing the manure for the 

 mushroom bed it is not essential that loam be mixed with the 

 manure. In the instance given above, fresh horse manure was 

 secured each day and the loam was mixed with it to absorb the sur- 

 plus moisture and the ammoniacal substances that might be rendered 

 volatile during the fermentation of the manure. The soil also acts 

 as a check to too rapid fermentation. 



Many mushroom growers do not make a practice of mixing loam 

 -with the manure in this way. They throw the manure into a heap, 



