CHAPTER 13 



THE MUSHROOM, Agoticus caitipestrts L. 



Cultural Considerations. As a rule florists are not 

 as yet giving the mushroom the attention and con- 

 sideration which it deserves. It is a crop which 

 adapts itself particularly well to growth under 

 benches, so that it utilizes all the extra greenhouse 

 space (fig. 32, a and b.). Like all other remunera- 

 tive crops, it requires skill to insure its permanent 

 success. 



Temperature. Mushrooms may be grown in to- 

 mato houses. In this case, the day temperature 

 should run from 60° to 70° F. and the night tem- 

 perature about 55° F. It should never be allowed 

 to fall below 50 degrees. At less than 50° the crop 

 does not thrive, although the spawn in the soil 

 may endure freezing temperature without being 

 killed. 



Preparation of Soil. In preparing .the soil, fresh 

 horse manure is mixed with loam as follows: To 

 three shovelfuls of manure add one of loam, piled 

 alternately in thin layers. This is kept for three 

 da3^, but mixed every day in order to prevent the 

 rapid fermentation or heating. This mixing is con- 

 tinued until all danger of spontaneous combustion 



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