Mvtstrrooms 1541 
temperature of from 55 to 60 degrees F. be maintained con- 
stantly. At the same time both beds and air must be kept moder- 
ately moist, with ventilation so under control as to avoid stagna- 
tion of air, which is apt to result in disease and decay. 
These conditions may be secured in a cellar, cave, shed, barn, 
or under greenhouse benches. The matter of light and dark- 
ness must be controlled also, since the best crops are produced 
in the dark; but this can he secured through the use of screen- 
ing material. 
COMPOST 
The next item is the compost and its preparation for the beds. 
The requirements are simple, but the precess must. be carried out 
with the greatest caro or failure is bound to result. Fresh, 
strawy stable manure must be procured. Leave in the straw but 
throw out any coarse weeds or stems. Sprinkle this until it is 
well dampened, turning and forking it over while wetting until 
the entire pile has a uniform degree of moisture. .\ safe moisture 
test is that of compression. The mass should have just what 
water it will hold without squeezing out under moderate pressure. 
After dampening, pile up, pressing down with a fork while pil- 
ing. The finished pile should be about three feet thick or high. 
Within a short time this begins to decompose and in so doing gen- 
erates heat which hastens the process cf decomposition. This 
should not, however, be allowed to develope too far or the heat 
will become so great as to burn, and ruin the compost. For 
this reason, therefore, the pile should be pulled apart at the end 
of four or five days, moistened slightly during the operation, 
forked over and re-piled. 
In about eight days more repeat the operation and at the end of 
another eight days the compost should be ready for use. This 
can be determined on opening the pile by noting the change m 
the color of the straw from yellow to brown. It should also be 
softened enough to break easily, and the odor will have changed, 
the rank “ manure” smell being changed to a sweeter one. 
PREPARING THE BEDS 
It is assumed that the mushrooms are to be grown imdoors in 
beds, and for these the compost is now ready. The beds, if ele- 
