122 THREE ACRES AND LIBERTY 



that in many places mushrooms may not be grown as a sum- 

 mer crop. With artificial heat they may be grown almost 

 anywhere throughout the winter. Moreover, it is very 

 probable that in this country open-air culture must be lim- 

 ited to a few sections. 



A second important factor is moisture. The place should 

 L< c be very damp, or constantly dripping with water. Under 

 sucn conditions successful commercial work is not possible. 

 A place where it is possible to maintain a fairly moist condi- 

 tion of the atmosphere, and having such capability for ven- 

 tilation as will cause at least a gradual evaporation, is neces- 

 sary. With too rapid ventilation and the consequent neces- 

 sity of repeated applications of water to the mushroom bed, 

 no mushroom crop will attain the highest perfection. 



Even a little iron rust in the soil is reported as fatal to 

 the Campestris, the only fungus so far successfully propa- 

 gated. 



If other fungi than the Campestris come up wild, don't 

 throw them away as worthless. Many are better eating 

 than the one you seek, and you can avoid the risk of poison- 

 ous ones by learning to recognize the dangerous family 

 send for the Agricultural Department's Bulletin No. 204. 

 Meanwhile, (1) all mushrooms with pink gills, (2) all coral- 

 like fungi, (3) all that grow on wood, and (4) all puffballs, 

 are good to eat if they are young and tender only don't 

 mistake an unspread Aminita for a puffball. 



An ingenious person may find other sources of income in 

 the country. A young hotel porter in Ulster County, New 

 York, bought seventy acres of mountain woodland four 

 miles from the railroad for two hundred and fifty dollars, 

 and puts in his winters cutting barrel hoops, at which he 

 makes two dollars a day. Meanwhile the land is maturing 



