1920.] 



Commercial Mushroom Cultivation. 



679 



be obtained on application, free of charge, to the General Secre- 

 tary, 3, St. James's Square, London, S.W.I. The leaflet de- 

 scribes also the methods of indoor and outdoor culture. 



For indoor culture any place that provides an agreeable 

 temperature and is free of draughts, can be used. Cellars, 

 barns, stables, wooden sheds, disused tunnels, quarries, 

 vineries and cucumber houses can all be successfully adapted for 

 mushroom cultivation. The roof and sides of wooden sheds 

 should be covered with a thick thatch of straw, and provision 

 made for ventilation in the roof. It is also an advantage to 

 instal hot-water pipes. If vineries are used the flat beds should 

 be on the pathway, with at least 3ft. of the vine border left clear. 

 The same rule applies to cucumber houses. In each case a raised 

 plank should be provided, so that the crop may be picked without 

 the operator setting foot on the bed. Eidge beds may be made 

 In very wide greenhouses. Except in glasshouses, indoor beds 

 may be made at any time of the year; the beginner should, 

 however, avoid commencing his preparations during the months 

 of May, June and July. 



For outdoor cultivation of mushrooms the selection of a site 

 is a matter of importance, especially if the crop under 

 cultivation is to be on a large scale. Among the essentials are 

 natural shelter from cold winds and a good supply of loam or 

 sandy loam for the casing of the beds ; adequate drainage is also 

 necessary. Shelter from cold winds may be increased by the 

 use of high wind breaks made of straw or straw mats, and it is of 

 advantage to have an ample supply of straw within easy distance. 

 September. October. December and January are the usual months 

 tor making up outdoor beds. The September and October beds 

 should start to bear in December and continue until March, and 

 the second will commence in March and finish in June. It is 

 well not to attempt summer cultivation until the grower has 

 attained considerable experience. The leaflet mentioned gives 

 detailed instructions for the construction of flat and ridge beds, 

 the preparation of which is a rather elaborate operation. The 

 question of temperature is also very important, and in this there 

 is a considerable difference of opinion. When the beds are 

 properly made up. the manure develops a temperature rising from 

 80° F. to about 140° F. This temperature then falls, and 

 when it has dropped to 85° F. in flat beds and 80° F. in ridge 

 beds, the time has come for spawning to begin. If the tempera- 

 ture is allowed to drop to 75° F. it is possible that the spawn will 

 either not develop at all or only develop very slowly. Mushrooms 



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