MUSHROOM CULTURE 



410 



generally be found advisable to build especially for the purpose. But no 

 one should build a mushroom house without first inspecting the plant of a 

 successful grower. Permanent walls can be made of hollow tile or other 

 material that will not readily decay. Air space in the wall must be provided 

 to maintain even temperature. 



When grown in winter mushrooms require artificial heat. Hot-water 

 heating, the system most economically and easily run, is in general use 

 by all large growers. Five hundred square feet of pipe surface (1000 feet 

 of H-inch pipe) should be allowed 

 to every 20,000 cubic feet of air 

 space. 



Preparation of the Compost. — 

 The best material is fresh horse 

 manure, which contains plenty of 

 the more resistant cereal straws. 

 Care should be exercised to see that 

 no disinfectant has been used. Build 

 the pile with straight sides 3 or 4 

 feet deep throughout and 8 feet 

 wide. This makes turning easy, 

 and leaching of plant-food is pre- 

 vented. In five days the pile should 

 be turned; thereafter at weekly 

 intervals, until rapid fermentation 

 has stopped; usually in three or 

 four weeks. Water the compost 

 when turning and keep it moist. 

 Heavy watering at first will do little 

 harm, but when ready for the beds 

 compost should be in such condition 

 that when squeezed in the hand 

 water will not readily drop from it. 

 Some growers cover the piles with 



three inches of dirt before and after the first turning. Equally successful 

 growers, however, use no dirt in the compost. Dirt seems only to shorten 

 the time necessary for composting. When ready for the beds the manure 

 has lost all objectionable odors, and the straw has changed from yellow 

 to dark brown. 



Filling the Beds. — The beds in common use are flat, 8 inches deep and 

 6 feet wide, built in tiers of shelves five or six beds to tb.3 tier. The boards 

 used are generally chestnut, 1 inch by 8 inches by 12 feet. These are lapped 

 loosely so they may be easily dumped. 



The bottom beds should be filled first, so that the operator will have 

 head room. They should then be firmed (i. e., leveled by light pounding 

 with back of fork); if not wet, the manure may be tramped. Firming 



Turning the Compost. 



