24S STUDIES OF AMERICAN FUNGI. 



stables so that it may be obtained in a practically fresh condition, 

 and handled by the liverymen according to directions, which will 

 keep it in the best possible condition for the purpose. In the cave 

 culture of mushrooms the manure is usually taken directly into the 

 caves, and cured in some portion of the cave. In the house culti- 

 vation of mushrooms there is usually a shed constructed with an 

 opening on one or two sides, at the end of the house connected with 

 the beds, where the manure may be cured. In curing it, it is placed 

 in piles, the size of which will depend upon the amount of manure 

 to be cured, and upon the method employed by the operator. The 

 usual size, where considerable manure is used, is about three feet in 

 depth by ten or twelve feet wide, and fifteen to twenty feet long. 

 The manure is laid in these piles to heat, and is changed or turned 

 whenever desirable to prevent the temperature from rising too high. 

 The object of turning is to prevent the burning of the material, 

 which results at high degrees of temperature in fermentation. It is 

 usually turned when the temperature rises to about 130 F. At 

 each turning the outside portions are brought to the center of the 

 pile. The process is continued until the manure is well fermented 

 and the temperature does not rise above 100 to 120 degrees, and 

 then it is ready for making into beds. 



There are several methods used in the process of curing, and it 

 does not seem necessary that any one method should be strictly 

 adhered to. The most important things to be observed are to 

 prevent the temperature from rising too high during the process of 

 fermentation, to secure a thorough fermentation, and to prevent the 

 materal from drying out, or burning, or becoming too wet. The 

 way in which the material is piled influences the rapidity of fermen- 

 tation, or the increase of temperature. Where the material is 

 rather loosely piled it ferments more rapidly, and the temperature 

 rises quickly. Watering the manure tends to increase the rapidity of 

 fermentation and the elevation of the temperature. It is necessary, 

 though, sometimes to water the material if the heat has reached 

 such a point that it is becoming too dry, or if there is a tendency for 

 it to burn. The material is then turned, and watered some, but 

 care should be used not to make it too wet, since the spawn will 

 not run in wet material. 



In general we might speak of three different methods in the 

 curing of the manure. First, the slow process of curing. According 

 to this method, which is practiced by some, the time of fermenta- 

 tion may extend from four to five weeks. In this case the manure 

 is piled in such a way that the temperature does not rise rapidly. 



