THE MYCOGONE DISEASE OF MUSHROOMS AND ITS CONTROL. 1 i 



of the workmen, or they may be present on tools and implements used 

 in the mushroom houses. Wind and insects, especially the mushroom 

 fly, are probably active agents in the distribution of the disease. 



It is a deplorable fact that there are growers who allow diseased 

 mushrooms to decay on the 'beds. There is in many cases so much 

 discouragement due to losses occasioned by the disease that no effort 

 is made to clean off the beds, the growers being content to pick what 

 few normal mushrooms they can and avoid the labor necessary to 

 suitably dispose of diseased specimens. 



Figure 5 shows a photograph of a bed which has been practically 

 exhausted, no normal mushrooms being produced. The grower has 

 allowed the diseased masses to remain and decay and these will produce 

 millions of spores, which will become a menace to new beds. These 

 spores will become mixed with the manure and earth when the beds 



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Fig. 5.— Diseased mushrooms left to decay upon the beds to become a menace to future crops. 



are removed and, if not suitably disposed of, may be introduced into 

 the house when new beds are made. 



All diseased material should be picked off as soon as it makes its 

 appearance. The labor of keeping the beds clear of the diseased 

 specimens will be repaid many times over in preventing the spread of 

 the malady. An important measure for the control of the disease is 

 to prevent the production of spores of the parasite. 



Places in the beds where the fungus appears may oe treated with 

 either of the disinfectants mentioned, formalin or one of the " sani- 

 tary fluids," to prevent the spread of the disease. Diseased mush- 

 rooms picked from beds should be soaked with a disinfectant. For 

 this purpose a solution of 1 gallon of formalin to 1 barrel of water (45 

 gallons) should be used. The only reason for not using formalde- 

 hyde solution is the discomfort in handling it. Its fungicidal action 

 against the disease has proved to be effective. In place of the 



