Mushrooms 1541 



temperature of from 55 to 60 degrees F. l>e maintained con- 

 stantly. At the same time both bods 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 bo 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 process must be carried out 

 with the greatest care or failure is bound to result. Fresh, 

 strawy stable manure must bo procured. Leave in the straw but 

 throw out any coarse weeds or steins. Sprinkle this until it is 

 well dampened, turning and forking it over while wetting until 

 the entire pile has a uniform degree of moisture. A 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 of 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 in 

 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 indoors in 

 beds, and for these the compost is now ready. The beds, if ele- 



