40 



Again, the period of production or the profitable "life" of a success- 

 ful 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 that yields plants of lighter weight. Many growers 

 think that there is profit in a bed which yields one-half pound per 

 square foot of surface. One should not be satisfied with less than this, 

 and if the best conditions prevail this yield is far below what should 

 be obtained. Two pounds per square foot is an excellent j^ield, and 

 some of our growers report this amount. 



Old Beds. 

 When a bed has ceased to bear, or is no longer profitable com- 

 mercially, it should be taken down and every particle 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 mushrooms, because it is not only 

 exhausted with reference to mushroom growing, but may also harbor 

 the diseases or enemies of the mushroom. When the bed is removed 

 the house should be thoroughly cleaned, and, if possible, sprayed or 

 fumigated. If conditions remain constant there is then no reason why 

 another crop should not follow immediately. 



Mushroom Enemies. 



With vigilance and cleanliness the mushroom bed usually resists 

 diseases or insect depredations. Fogging off is supposed to be caused 

 by some lack of essential conditions, and in the pin-head or button 

 stage, the mushrooms turn brown, cease to grow and soon decay. It 

 is most frequent in warm weather. Black Spot manifests itself by the 

 appearance of small, discolored areas on the surface of the cap, and is 

 said to be due to improper watering and lack of ventilation. 



Mites are constantly found in compost heaps, but are sluggish and 

 seldom troublesome at a temperature of less than 59° F. Wood lice 

 are not of great importance under favorable conditions of temperature, 

 and may be exterminated by trapping and poisoning with pieces of 

 potato smeared with arsenic or Paris green, and placed in tin cans or 

 boxes. Snails and slugs are frequent pests, but are readily trapped by 

 the use of lettuce or cabbage leaves. Springtails may be a source of 

 great annoyance in damp caves, but usually only establish themselves 

 where carelessness has been shown in cleaning out old bedding mate- 

 rial. When present they may be readily destroyed by fumigation 

 with carbon bisulphid. Larvse of flies are not of great importance, 

 though that of the little fly, Phora minuta, may be troublesome in 

 warm weather, when fumigation may be practiced to extend the life 

 of the bed somewhat later. 



