MISCELLANEOUS CROPS 657 



off short, but the market demands that there shall be few long 

 shanks. 



For the best trade it is desirable to "sort" the mushrooms, 

 placing only those of nearly the same size in the same packages.' 

 It is certainly not well to pack together "broilers" and buttons, if 

 this can be avoided. Defective mushrooms should invariably be 

 thrown out. Mushrooms should be treated as a first-grade product 

 in every way, and therefore the package must be attractive. If the 

 time involved in shipment is not to be very long, they may be put 

 into 5-pound splintwood baskets, or they may be packed in 2-pound 

 boxes arranged in crates as prepared for fruit. Shipment may also 

 be made in boxes of sizes demanded by the general or private trade. 

 Baskets afford excellent ventilation, yet boxes are often to be pre- 

 ferred. If the latter are lined with a blue paraffin or oiled paper, 

 a good color contrast will result and the package will be made much 

 more attractive. 



Market Prices. The prices paid for mushrooms in American 

 markets are unusually variable. Perhaps it is fair to say that one 

 should consider from 35 to 50 cents per pound a good average 

 price. In many cities or towns 30 cents would be as much as could 

 be obtained. On the other hand, a price of 75 cents is frequently 

 paid. The unusual quotation of one dollar or more is not to be ex- 

 pected. It is true that for a fine grade of mushrooms such prices 

 are paid to retailers by the fancy trade and during special seasons 

 or for special occasions. The grower may well look for the time, 

 however, when the market demands will support a generous supply 

 at a constant but fair price. 



The Period of Production. Under favorable circumstances, a 

 bed may come into bearing within six weeks. It usually requires, 

 however, a longer period, and eight weeks may more nearly repre- 

 sent the average conditions. If the conditions have been variable, 

 and especially if at times a very low temperature has prevailed, 

 bearing may be still further delayed. Again, the period of produc- 

 tion or the profitable "life" of a successful bed may vary greatly, 

 ranging from five weeks to as many months. As a rule, a bed 

 which produces fine heavy mushrooms will bear longer than one 

 which yields plants of lighter weight. Many growers think that 

 there is a profit in a bed which yields one-half pound per square foot 

 of surface area. One should not be satisfied with less than this, and if 

 the best conditions prevail this yield is far below what should be 

 obtained. 



Old Beds. When a bed has ceased to bear, or is no longer 

 profitable commercially, it should be taken down and every parti- 

 cle of the bedding and casing materials removed from the cave, 

 cellar, or house. The manure is still valuable for field and garden 

 purposes, but it is wholly useless and even dangerous for mush- 

 rooms because it is not only exhausted with reference to mush- 

 room growing but may also harbor the diseases or enemies of the 

 mushroom. When the bed is removed the house should be thor- 

 oughly cleaned, and, if possible, sprayed or fumigated. If condi- 



