MUSHROOM CULTURE. 



Fig, 1287.— Bed of Mushrooms. 



^ fv ^HE cultivation of this nutritious 

 esculent is a very simple matter, 

 and requires only ordinary in- 

 telligence and care. The ma- 

 terials needed are fresh horse manure, 

 good soil and live spawn. The manure 

 should not be too short, as it does not 

 combine the necessary qualities. Long 

 strawy litter plentifully mixed with short 

 manure, makes by far the best- beds, as 

 it does not heat too violently, decom- 

 poses slowly, and retains its heat for along 

 period. Put in a heap and turn every 3 

 or 4 days to permit the escape of noxious 

 gases, and prevent burning. Manure 

 that has become white or " fire fanged " 

 and mouldy is worthless for mushroom 

 beds. When ready for use it should not 

 possess an offensive odor, and should 

 be as hot as can be borne comfortably 

 by the hand. It should also be moist, 

 for if too dry the decomposition of the 

 mass will be rapid, and the bed exhaust- 

 ed-before the crop has matured. If a 

 shed or cellar is not available they can 

 be grown in the open air, but the time 

 necessary to perfect a crop will be longer. 

 Make the beds 3 feet wide at the base, 

 2^ feet high, tapering to 6 inches at 

 the top, and of any desired length. The 

 manure when in proper condition, should 

 be quickly handled to prevent the loss 

 of heat, and be beaten down to make 

 the heap firm and compact. When of 



the desired size the sides should be 

 dressed down neatly and the heap cov- 

 ered with long litter. Allow this to re- 

 main till the heat has decreased to 90°, 

 at this point the bed is ready to receive 

 the spawn, which is done by raising the 

 manure with the hand and inserting 

 pieces of spawn 2 inches square, 9 inches 

 apart each way. Liberal use of spawn 

 results in larger crops. Many beds fail 

 to give satisfactory returns owing to the 

 bricks being broken in too small pieces. 

 At the expiration of three days the spawn 

 will have commenced to run, and the 

 bed is in proper condition for covering 

 with soil. Any good fresh soil will an- 

 swer, but turfy loam from an old pasture 

 or meadow is preferable. If the soil is 

 poor add a liberal quantity of bone meal. 

 The earth should be just moist enough 

 to press together nicely ; if too wet when 

 put on it is apt to crack and thereby per- 

 mit the heat to escape instead of per- 

 meating the heat evenly. If the soil is 

 light put on to the depth of 2 inches, 

 but if heavy i inch will be sufficient. 

 The bed should again be covered with 

 the litter, and it should remain on till 

 the bed is exhausted, only removing it 

 to gather the crop. If the bed shows 

 signs of dryness water on top of the 

 litter, and not directly on the soil. 



Mushrooms can be readily grown in 

 cellars, stables, sheds or pits. The 

 requirements as to manure, soil, etc., 

 are similar, but the season can be pro- 

 longed and the temperature regulated 

 more easily than in the open air, Mat;y 

 are successfully grown on the shelf in 

 an ordinary cellar, and yield sufficient 

 crop to compensate the grower for his 

 effort. Spent hot beds also meet the 

 requirements of the mushroom in a large 

 measure. Bits of mushroom can be in- 

 serted before the bed has become cold 



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