338 Report of the Horticulturist of the 



perature under these benches would be so great as to interfere with 

 the successful growing of mushrooms. The space under the center 

 bench of one house at this Station was used for growing mushrooms 

 as stated on page 333 and yet a single pipe about two inches above 

 the top of the bed passed under three sides of this bench. It was 

 a hot water pipe three inches in diameter. Sphagnum was packed 

 in the bed immediately underneath this pipe and the bed was 

 watered as often as was necessary to keep the surface moist. Under 

 these conditions mushrooms were grown successfully very near to 

 the pipes as shown in Figure 13, Plate XI, which is reproduced 

 from a photograph of a portion of this bed. In this case the re- 

 sults were quite satisfactory, showing that mushrooms may be 

 grown under benches near heating pipes. At the present writing, 

 during the winter of 1894-5, mushrooms are being grown at this 

 Station under side benches, although the bed is built next to two 

 flow and two return pipes for hot water, the pipes being three inches 

 in diameter. An inch board back of the bed separates the bed 

 from the pipes. The bed is about a foot wide and ten inches deep, 

 enclosed with inch boards. 



While it is true that mushrooms may be grown next to heating 

 pipes, yet space under benches where there are no heating pipes is 

 preferable to a location where the heating pipes are in contact with, 

 or in close proximity to the bed. 



Picking. — Mushrooms should be gathered as soon as the cap 

 expands and while the gills are of a dull pink color. If left too 

 long the gills become black and the mushrooms are not then so 

 attractive and fresh looking as they are if picked soon after the cap 

 expands and while the gills are still pink. 



As grown in beds mushrooms sometimes come up singly, but they 

 very frequently grow up in groups or clusters so close together that 

 great care must be taken in gathering the mature mushrooms not 

 to disturb the immature buttons which are growing up with them. 

 It has been found that it is better to break or twist ofE the mush- 

 rooms at the surface of the soil rather than cut the stalks. With 

 a little practice this can be done without disturbing the rest of the 

 cluster. When the stalks are cut the stump that is left is liable to 

 rot and spread the rot to the surrounding spawn, or buttons. 



Mushrooms are apt to come up in clusters, and it frequently 

 happens that full grown specimens and buttons are so closely 

 attached together that one can not be removed without taking the 



