MUSHROOMS 



CHAPTER XXXVI 



MUSHROOMS 



MUSHROOM growing, if done successfully, is a profitable enterprise. 

 Much has been written by experienced growers in regard to the culti- 

 vation of this important crop, but every one of them probably has 

 some failures to record along with his successes. I have grown Mushrooms 

 for many years, and I know, from sad experience, that one bed may give entire 

 satisfaction, while another, a few weeks later, may be a failure, with exactly the 

 same treatment, seemingly. Such variation is difficult to explain. Some won- 

 derfully successful crops of Mushrooms have been grown artiliciall\ , and tlicre 

 have been, doubtless, failures just as remarkable. 



The cultivation of Mushrooms is, however, interestmg work, all the more 

 so on account of the uncertainty attending it. The Mushroom bed is probably 

 watched as carefully as any other crop grown artificially. When we first see 

 the weblike spawn working, spreading through the soil, we feel encouraged, 

 but not until four or five weeks after spawning, when the Mushrooms are break- 

 ing through, do we have any certainty that our labors will be rewarded. 

 A successful crop is largely dependent on conditions. We may see Mush- 

 rooms growing in all conceivable places — in cellars, under greenhouse benches, 

 and in houses especially built for them, though there may be many a mushroom- 

 house not up to the requirements of the plant or fungus. The essential 

 point is to bring the crop along without adding much water to the beds. 

 Where they dry out often and much watering is required, the result in 

 most cases is failure. It seems a simple matter to give directions for preparing 

 a Mushroom bed. If we hear of a grower who has wonderful success year after 

 year, we may be certain that the situation of his beds is ideal for the purpose. 

 While it is necessary to be familiar with the culture of this crop, yet the man 

 who strikes the conditions agreeable to it is fortunate; with good treatment 

 his failures will be few. Anyone who has grown Mushrooms in one place only 

 will not realize the force of this argument, while those who have had experience 

 in growing them in different houses will appreciate it. 



Some years ago I had, for several seasons, charge of a house in which a 

 failure was rare; the Mushrooms always made a healthy growth. I confess 

 that I was successful enough to get a bit conceited, thinking that I had become 

 perfect in the art of producing a bountiful crop of Mushrooms year after year, 

 taking all the credit to myself and giving none to the surroundings. But lo and 



