CHAPTER XIL 
LOAM FOR THE BEDS. 
In growing mushrooms we need loam for casing the 
beds after they are spawned, topdressing the bearing 
beds when they first show signs of exhaustion, filling up 
the cavities in the surface of the beds caused by the 
removal of the mushroom stumps, and for mixing with 
manure to form the beds. The selection of soil depends 
a good deal on what kind of soil we have at hand, or can 
readily obtain. 
The best kind of loam for every purpose in connection 
with mushroom-growing is rich, fresh, mellow soil, such 
as florists eagerly seek for potting and other greenhouse 
purposes. In early fall I get together a pile of fresh 
sod loam, that is, the top spit from a pasture field, but 
do not add any manure to it. Of course, while this 
contains a good deal of grassy sod there is much fine 
soil among it, and this is what I use for mushrooms. 
Before using it I break up the sods with a spade or fork, 
throw aside the very toughest parts of them, and use 
the finer earthy portion, but always in its rough state, 
and never sifted. The green, soddy parts that are not 
too rough are allowed to remain in the soil, for they do 
no harm whatever, either in arresting the mycelium or 
checking the mushrooms, and there is no danger that 
the grass would grow up and smother the mushrooms. 
Common loam from an open, well-drained fallow field 
is good, and, if the soil is naturally rich, excellent for 
any purpose. But do not take it from the wet parts of 
the fields. Reject all stones, rough clods, tussocks, and 
the like. Such loam may be used at once. 
100 
