130 MINOR PRODUCTS OF PHILIPPINE FORESTS 



caying hemp and rice trash. Vicencio,* who carried out pre- 

 liminary studies on mushroom culture in the Philippines, gives 

 the following as the local methods of culture. 



There are four methods of growing mushrooms in Pampanga; namely 

 the rice-wash method, common salt method, bagasse method and banana 

 method. The first two methods consist in piling chopped rice straw in 

 a favorable place, usually under bamboo trees. The rice straw must be 

 ten inches thick above the surface of the ground after being tramped by 

 the feet. Those two are the same in all respects except that the solutions 

 used for keeping them moist are different; for example, in the rice- wash 

 method, the solution used is the washings from the rice before cooking. 

 This liquid looks milky and contains water and starch. For the common 

 salt method, the liquid is a weak brine, a solution containing one spoonful 

 of salt to every eight liters of water. The bagasse method consists in 

 piling together fine pieces of sugar-cane bagasse and heavily watering with 

 sugar cane juice scum at least daily for one month, afterwards keeping 

 the bed moist with water. The banana method consists of piling chopped 

 banana trunks, stumps and leaves to a thickness of about one foot and 

 a half or sometimes more. It is said by the natives that the thicker it is the 

 better. As in the other cases, it should be watered to keep it moist. 



In all parts of these methods, it is important to note that no previous 

 spawning is to be done in the bed. The growers have only to attend to the 

 preparation of the bed, its care and the gathering of the mushrooms. 



Volvaria esculenta has an excellent flavor and a strong, pleas- 

 ant, rice-straw odor. It will dry down well and can be kept 

 in this condition for a long period (Fig. 16). Its odor and 

 flavor is not lost in drying. These mushrooms can be success- 

 fully cultivated in the Philippines and this industry could be 

 developed to such an extent that it would be unnecessary to im- 

 port from China and Japan, 



Volvaria prumosa Graff, grows on sandy beaches near salt 

 water. 



Genus AGARICUS 



Spores of various colors; gills membranaceous, persistent, 

 with an acute edge; trama floccose, confluent with the inferior 

 hymenium. Fleshy fungi, putrifying, and not reviving when 

 once dried, hence differing from such genera as are deliquescent, 

 coriaceous, or woody. The general characters are the color 

 of spores and the presence of a ring on the stipe and no cup or 

 volva at the base of the stem. 



The genus is divided into five series according to the color 

 of the spores. Species of Agai'iciis are found throughout the 

 world and they comprise the chief edible mushrooms of com- 

 merce. 



* Vicencio, Arsenio Santos. A study of mushroom culture in the Phil- 

 ippines. The Philippine Agriculturist and Forester, Vol. 5 (1916), pages 

 119-128. 



