MUSHROOM GROWING IN THE UNITED STATES 



29 



than cut. After a mushroom or clump of mushrooms is picked, the 

 fleshy stump is carefully removed and the hole is usually filled with 

 fresh soil. The removal of these stumps is important, since their 

 presence in the bed favors the development of green mold in the soil 

 and the green mold prevents the formation of new mushrooms in the 

 moldy areas. Large numbers of button mushrooms from one-eighth 

 to three-eighths inch in diameter die off, even on normal beds, pre- 

 sumably because of the crowding out or breaking of the mycelial 

 strands connecting the young mushrooms with their supply of nutri- 

 tion in the compost. With a little practice these mushrooms are 

 easily distinguished from healthy buttons and they should be re- 

 moved from the bed for the same reason that the dead stumps are 

 removed. 



Most of the mushrooms sold in the United States are marketed 

 fresh, although a well-established canning industry has developed 



Figure 16. — Mushrooms packed in the 1-pound paper carton preferred in the West 

 and in the 3-pound baskets used in the East 



in the last 15 years to take care of the demand for canned mush- 

 rooms. Fresh mushrooms are sold on the basis of weight, in the 

 East in 3-pound baskets and in the West largely in 1-pound paper 

 cartons. (Fig. 16.) When packed fresh they are usually sorted 

 according to varietal characteristics, size, and freedom from blem- 

 ishes. In most large cities they are sold on a commission basis 

 through produce dealers. In smaller cities they are sometimes 

 shipped directly from the grower to hotels. Shipment from sur- 

 rounding States into Chicago is usually made b}^ express, whereas 

 nearly all of the mushrooms shipped from Pennsylvania into New 

 York City are taken directly from the grower to the commission 

 dealer in automobile trucks. 



Often both the grower and the consignee benefit from the use of 

 United States standards for mushrooms when handling the best grade. 

 Mushrooms may be graded and the containers marked United States 

 No. 1 provided they contain good quality mushrooms larger than 



