6 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
Production of Mushrooms for the Paris market in 1901, by 
. MONTHS. 
Total pro- 
Total pro 
Month. 
duction. 
Month. 
duction. 
Pounds. 
Pounds. 
January . 
. . . 902,000 
July . 
734,800 
February . 
895,400 
August. 
651,200 
March . 
. . . 941,600 
September. 
653,400 
April . 
9 1 7,4oo 
October . 
. . . 649,000 
May. 
November. 
655,600 
June. 
. . . 877,800 
December . 
. . . 726,000 
Causes of Failure. 
water. Under such conditions successful commercial work 
is not possible. A place where it is possible to maintain a 
fairly moist condition of the atmosphere, and having such 
capability for ventilation as will cause at least a gradual 
evaporation is, by general practice and by the most exten¬ 
sive experimentation, shown to be necessary. With too 
rapid ventilation and the consequent necessity of repeated 
applications of water to the mushroom bed no mushroom 
crop will attain the highest perfection. 
Success in mushroom growing depends on intelligent 
study on conditions and on experience. While many 
American growers have been successful in the production of 
mushrooms, a much larger number have failed. In most 
cases their failures have been due to one or more of the 
following causes: 
(1) The use o.f poor spawn, or of spawn which has been 
killed by improper 
storage. 
(2) Spawning at 
a temperature in¬ 
juriously high. 
(3) The use of 
too much water 
either at the time 
of spawning or 
later. 
(4) Unfavorable 
temperature during 
the growing period. 
It is therefore 
important to the 
prospective grower 
that careful atten¬ 
tion be given to the 
general discussion 
of conditions w r hich 
follows. 
Temperature and Moisture. 
Mushrooms may be grown in any place where the condi¬ 
tions of temperature and moisture are favorable. A shed, 
cellar, cave, or vacant space in a greenhouse may be utilized 
to advantage for this purpose. The most essential factor, 
perhaps, is that of temperature. The proper temperature 
ranges from 53 0 to 6o° F., with the best from 55 0 to 58° F. 
It is unsafe to attempt to grow mushrooms on a commercial 
basis, according to our present knowledge of the subject, at 
a temperature much less than 50° or greater than 63° F. 
Any severe changes of temperature retard growth, or else 
act injuriously, and many changes of temperature would 
entirely destroy the profits of the mushroom crop. From 
this it is evident that in many places mushrooms may not 
be grown as a summer crop. With artificial heat they may 
be grown almost anywhere throughout the winter. More¬ 
over, it is very probable that in this country open-air 
culture must be limited to a few sections, and restricted, 
commercially at least, to a single season. 
A second important factor is that of moisture. The place 
should not be very damp, or constantly dripping with 
Caves, Cellars, and Houses. 
Cellars, caves and abandoned mines, or specially con¬ 
structed houses, are used for growing mushrooms, because in 
such places only can the conditions of temperature and 
moisture be best regulated. Cold is less injurious to mush¬ 
room beds than heat. The former renders the bed for a 
time unproductive; 
but the latter stim¬ 
ulates the spawn 
to too rapid growth, 
which is usually 
followed by the pro¬ 
duction of unsal¬ 
able mushrooms, or 
by the eventual 
death of the spawn, 
supposedly by 
damping off. 
Mushrooms may 
often be grown in 
a very simply con¬ 
structed shed or 
unused barn which 
will provide against 
any sudden changes 
of the temperature, 
and when it is possible to employ artificial heat the 
season for mushroom production in such structures may 
be greatly extended. Cellars are very commonly used 
in producing mushrooms for family use. Natural or 
artificial caves are of the first importance, however, 
for commercial work, since the situation of these 
below the surface will best insure a temperature through¬ 
out almost the entire year more or less close to 
that which is desired. In selecting caves or cellars, 
one should guard against the possibility of flooding or of 
too much seepage water during a rainy season. Perhaps 
the least satisfactory situation among those mentioned is 
the greenhouse. Under ordinary circumstances it heats 
up too readily during days of warm sunshine, and, unless 
special precautions are taken, it is not to be generally 
recommended for amateurs. Nevertheless, during the fall 
and winter it is possible to grow mushrooms under the 
benches or in any other unused space with but very little 
outlay of money or labor. Cold frames may also be used 
to good advantage during the autumn or spring. The 
natural caves of this country and abandoned coal mines in 
some sections should be further investigated with relation to 
Showing the bricks of pure culture spawn in Pure culture Spawn Company’s Warehouse, Pacific, Mo. 
