WEEBER & DON'S 
Sure Crop Spawn 
A Few Directions for Forming Mushroom Beds 
rTpHE Mushroom is one of the most profitable crops grown, 
I especially in the vicinity of largo cities, where the 
demand, at all seasbns, is far in excess of the supply. 
The best time for making mushroom beds is in August and 
September, as in the fall months the natural heat is- sufficient 
to cause the spawn to germinate freely, and the beds made , 
then ought to bear well before and up to Christmas. Mush- 
rooms can be grown in s^eds, cellars, caves, under benches in 1 
greenhouses, and in regular mushroom houses. 
In preparing the materials, collect sufficient fresh horse 
droppings to fbrm the desired size of bed, spreading them but 
in an airy shed to dry, and turning them frequently. When 
in a proper state as to dryness, which will soon/be learned by 
experience, make these into a bed from nine inches to one foot 
thick, beating them firmly, together. If the droppings have 
been properly prepared, gentle fermentation will soon com- 
mence, and when the temperature of the bed is from 75° to 
80°, with no danger of its rising higher, put in the spawn. 
This is done by making shallow holes, about 9 inches apart, 
inserting pieces of spawn about the size of a hen's egg, and 
covering with the dung,: pressing this closely about the spawn. 
It is of vthe greatest importance that the temperature of the 
bed should not decline below 75°, nor rise above .80° for a 
month after, spawning. Within a fortnight after putting in 
the spawn cover the bed about two inches thick with good 
mellow/ moist soil, making this firm, and if under this a 
covering one Or two inches thick of cow dung in about thef* same condition in moisture as the soil, can be 
afforded, this will cause the bed to last longer, and also to produce a 'larger crop than if covered with soil 
only The most suitable temperature f Or beds in bearing is 50° to 55°, and as a high temperature causes the 
mushrooms to come small, this] should be avoided. Watering beds in bearing often causes the small 
mushrooms to jdamp off; therefore water only when the bed ceases to be productive, and then use the 
water about the, same temperature as the bed. 
ENGLISH MUSHROOM SPAWN ^ lb - 160 -; 
More bulky than the English. 2-lb. boxes, 
75c. each ; in bulk, 35c. per lb. 
MUSHBOOMS 
Pure Culture Mushroom Spawn 
The pure culture method ■, of raising spawn was discovered by Dr. Duggar in 1903; since that time 
extensive tests have been made and a company was formed with a view of producing it in commercial 
quantities. Some growers were so surprised at their, success . with the new spawn that they carefully 
concealed .it from their neighbors and suggested that the production of pure culture spawn be curtailed, 
fearing that by its general use, mushrooms would become too plentiful and consequently too cheap. This 
objection is not well-founded, however, for the improvement in the quality and flavor of the mushroom will 
stimulate the demand to the same extent that the demand for fruit has been increased since the grafting 
process has displaced seed planting. In bricks, the finest .quality, per lb., 15c. ; 8 lbs. for $1.00. 
WEEBER & DON 
Seed Merchants and Growers 
114 Chambers Street NEW YORK 
