420 VEGETABLE FORCING 



The common sowbug is also an enemy of the mush- 

 room. It may multiply in decaying wood, or gain an 

 entrance to the house through the manure or compost. 

 This pest, if uncontrolled, will destroy many pounds of 

 mushrooms in a very short time. An effective remedy is 

 to place poisoned slices of raw potatoes over the beds. If 

 only a few sowbugs appear, a little handpicking may be 

 all that is required. 



Diseases. Duggar believes it highly probable that the 

 chief types of disease affecting cultivated mushrooms are 

 due to one species, Mycogone perniciosa, which possesses 

 two spore stages, and grows upon both the spawn and the 

 mushrooms. The disease causes an enlargement of all 

 parts of the mushroom, and usually covers it with a mold- 

 like coating. In the second stage of the disease, the stem 

 is greatly enlarged and the cap poorly developed. In this 

 stage the mushrooms are very soft, and often decay before 

 they attain normal size, though specimens of abnormal 

 proportions occur in diseased beds. A 2^ per cent solu- 

 tion of lysol is recommended for spraying diseased beds, 

 though fumigating with the vapors of formaldehyde is 

 considered more effective. See "Mushroom Growing," 

 by Duggar, page 139. 



Diseases and insect enemies are not likely to cause 

 serious losses in the growing of mushrooms if proper 

 attention is given to sanitation. The soil, compost and 

 lumber should be removed annually and all interior parts 

 of the house thoroughly treated for the destruction of 

 insect pests and disease germs. 



Picking and marketing. The beds generally begin to 

 produce in 6 to 8 weeks from the date of spawning, 

 though 10 to 12 weeks may elapse, if the temperatures are 

 abnormally low or if shavings manure has been used for 

 the compost. The period of production is extremely vari- 

 able, but it should continue for several months. 



It is necessary to look over the beds every day, so that 



