CHAPTER XII. 



LOAM FOR THE BEDS. 



In growing mushrooms we need loam for casing the 

 beds after they are spawned, topdressing the bearing 

 beds wlien they first show signs of exhaustion, filling up 

 the cavities in the surface of the beds caused by the 

 removal of the mushroom stumps, and for mixing with 

 manure to form the beds. The selection of soil depends 

 a good deal on what kind of soil we have at hand, or can 

 readily obtain. 



The best kind of loam for every purpose in connection 

 vyith mushroom-growing is rich, fresh, mellow soil, such 

 as florists eagerly seek for potting and other greenhouse 

 purposes. In early fall I get together a pile of fresh 

 sod loam, that is, the top spit from a pasture field, but 

 do not add any manure to it. Of course, while this 

 contains a good deal of grassy sod there is much fine 

 soil among it, and this is what I use for mushrooms. 

 Before using it I break up the sods with a spade or fork, 

 throw aside the very toughest parts of them, and use 

 the finer earthy portion, but always in its rough state, 

 and never sifted. The green, soddy parts that are not 

 too rough are allowed to remain in the soil, for they do 

 no harm whatever, either in arresting the mycelium or 

 checking the mushrooms, and there is no danger that 

 the grass would grow up and smother the mushrooms. 



Common loam from an open, well-drained fallow field 

 is good, and, if the soil is naturally rich, excellent for 

 any purpose. But do not take it from the wet parts of 

 the fields. Reject all stones, rough clods, tussocks, and 

 the like. Such loam may be used at once. 



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