37 



ai^pearance through the loam, a temperature of from 65° to 75° F. may 

 be obtained ; but after the mushrooms have commenced to develop, the 

 temperature should be kept about 55° F. If the temperature goes above 

 60° F., some means should be employed to lower it ; and if it goes below 



Fig. 6. — CroBS-section of a mushroom house. The house is constructed of wood and 

 banked up wilh earth, and the earth covered with hay or straw. 



50° F., it should be raised either by covei'ing the beds or by applying 

 artificial heat. Beds should never be allowed to become too dry, and 

 must be kept tolerably moist, either by employing matting or old carpets 

 before the mushrooms appear, or by sprinkling with water. 



Fig. 6. — Cross-section of a cement and corrugated-iron muBhroom house, banked up with 

 earth. The house is provided with a truss roof. C, corrugated iron ; />, wooden truss; 

 li, half-inch iron tie rod. The house is fifteen feet wide, and four feet high at ends to 

 iron roof, and is heated from boiler. 



Houses. — Where special attention is given to commercial nuishroom 

 growing, houses are constructed which are adapted to the growth of this 

 crop. The style of houses shown in figs. 4 and 5 represent types that 

 have been utilized for some time by various commercial growers of 

 mushrooms. The houses usually set two or three feet below the level 



