252 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
THE RAISING OF MUSHROOMS. 
F, J. PRACNA, MINNEAPOLIS. 
The toothsome fungi, highly loved by all epicures all over the world, is 
what I wish to talk about—their culture from what I have learned through 
my Own experience. 
As there are more than four hundred different varieties of mushrooms, 
I will just devote myself to the culture of the Agaricus Campestris (the 
meadow mushroom), with which I have had some experience, and which 
is the only one, so far as I know, that can be commercially cultivated. 
Mushrooms require a dry and frost-proof place where there is some 
light, moderate temperature and freedom from draft and sudden changes 
of heat and cold. In the raising of my mushrooms I found a-most desirable 
place in the old beer caves, or cellars, of Mr. Gluck, on upper Nicollet 
Island. In these caves I found a good temperature the year around, which 
is very important in mushroom culture; in winter, to save fuel; in summer, 
as it is the only possible place to raise mushrooms during the hottest weather. 
The temperature for a good successful growth oi mushrooms should 
not exceed 70 degrees Fahrenheit and not be lower than 50 degrees. 
I prepare the material for my beds by having the sweepings of our 
paved streets, the clear horse droppings, hauled into these caves. This is. 
the best material to use. After this is hauled into the caves, I have it all 
piled in a heap and let it ferment to the degree of 130 Fahrenheit. After 
this material has stood for a few days I have it turned over a second time 
to ferment to the same degree (130). This I let stand for about a week, 
being careful that the material does not burn (turn white). Then I mix 
about one-fourth of garden soil with this material, and if too dry sprinkle 
it with water. The material should cool off to 100 degrees, when it is time 
to form the beds. 
The beds I make about sixteen inches deep, and when they have cooled 
off to go degrees (which they will by handling the material in forming 
them) I commence to spawn. 
I get good English mushroom spawn (which comes in brick-like forms) 
and for a couple of days I have it spread flat upon my beds so that it may 
draw a little moisture. JI then break the spawn into pieces the size of a 
small egg and insert them into the beds about two inches deep and a foot 
apart each way and cover this with a half an inch of soil. The beds then 
should be beaten or trodden down and in about a week or ten days the 
spawn will spread (if effective) and resemble a spider-web spread all through 
the beds, which is the pregnancy of the fungi. “Then I cover the beds with 
an inch and a half more of Sonus soil and press it down good with the 
flat side of a spade. 
The caves are then closed up tight, with the exception of a ventilator 
which I have above the entrance, for about three weeks, and at the end 
of that time I open them for plenty of ventilation—but no draft of any kind. 
The dampness of the sand rock and the depth of the caves, forty feet, 
produces, in about two months the best kind of a mushroom. They are 
as white as snow and juicy and do not look like those which grow out-doors 
and which are usually of a brownish color. 
Mushroom culture is a very simple thing that any one who likes them 
can easily accomplish with a little trouble. You can raise them in a meadow, 
