For the best trade it is desirable to "sort" the mushrooms, placing 

 only those of nearly the same size in the same packages. It is cer- 

 tainly not well to pack together "broilers" and buttons, if this can 

 be avoided. Defective mushrooms should invariably be thrown out. 

 Mushrooms should be treated as a first grade product in every 

 way, and therefore the package must be attractive. If the time in- 

 volved in shipment is not to be very long, they may be put into 5 

 pound splintwood baskets, or they may be packed in 2 pound boxes 

 arranged in crates as prepared for fruit. Shipment may also be made 

 in boxes of sizes demanded by the general or private trade. Bas- 

 kets afford excellent ventilation, yet boxes are often to be preferred. 

 If the latter are lined with a blue paraffin or oiled paper, a good color 

 contrast will result and the package will be made much more at- 

 tractive. 



Under favorable circumstances, a bed may come into bearing with- 

 in six weeks. It usually requires, however, a longer period, and 

 eight weeks may more nearly represent the average conditions. 

 If the conditions have been variable, and especially if at times a 

 very low temperature has prevailed, bearing may be still further de- 

 layed. Again, the period of production or the profitable "life" 

 of a successful bed may vary greatly, ranging from five weeks to 

 as many months. As a rule, a bed which produces fine heavy 

 mushrooms will bear longer than one which yields plants of lighter 

 weight. Many growers think that there is profit in a bed which 

 yields one-half pound per square foot of surface area. One should 

 not be satisfied with less than this, and if the best conditions prevail 

 this yield is far below what should be obtained. Two pounds per. 

 square foot is an excellent yield and some of t)ur growers report this 

 amount. 



11. Old Beds 



When g bed has ceased to bear, or is no longer profitable com- 

 mercially, it should be taken down and every particle of the bedding 

 and casing materials removed from the cave, cellar or house. The 

 manure is still valuable for field and garden purposes, but it is wholly 

 useless and even dangerous for mushrooms, because it is not only ex- 

 hausted with reference to mushroom growing but may also harbor 

 the diseases or enemies of the mushroom. When the bed is removed 

 the house-should be thoroughly cleaned, and if possible, sprayed or 

 fumigated. If conditions remain constant, there is then no reason 

 why another crop should not follow immediately. 



12. Open Air Culture 



In some sections of England and France open air culture of mush- 

 rooms in beds is practicable during the late autumn and winter months 

 in which case the productive period may extend into the spring. 



