The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1881-12-14
RAISING MUSHROOMS.


AIOW Nu hKIICUAluAuA NtNntE EoAhp eA'
past season has been remArkable chief,
in two respects-the acantiness OF th.
ordinary crops and the Unprecedented
abundance OF the mushroom. Usually
this little fungus does not form a no
ticeable feature Of the farm production,
but this season the thrifty husbandman
has materially increased his years gains
by gathering mushrooms and sending
them to the large cities, where they are
quickly disposed of. This year, how.
ever, the markets are simply overstocked
so much so that It is difficult to find
ready sale for them.
Like the tomato among garden vege-
tables, the mushroom has been long
time IN forcing its way into popular
favor as an article of diet simply from
the fact that it is closely allied in form
and general appearance with the poison
oua toadstool In reality, however, the
differences are very marked and it re-
Quires but slight examination Of the
two fungi to be able to distinguish
them with accuracy.
The gills on the lower portion of the
mushroom are always of rich pinkish
hue. changing to deep black as the
fungus becomes old and unfit for use,
whereas those of the toadstool are of a
sickly-white or yellowish color. The
mushroom is also thick and feshy and
can be readily peeled, while its danger
GUS brother possesses none Of these
properties. In France the cultiva-
tion of the mushroom is carried to
high degree OF perfection, and result
has proven that it can be improved
in size and in quality by skillful gar
dening. In that country underground
chambers are constructed, with
beds arranged at convenient intervals
along the floors. These beds, COM
posed of rich earth and manure, are
planted with the mushroom spawn,
which has been previously prepared.
Deserted mines and. caverns are also
frequently utilized for mushroom grow
ing. The main requisite for successful
production seems to be an equsble tenn
perature, sudden changes being consid-
cred destructive to growth. Notwith-
standing this fact, which is recognized
by successful growers of the fungus, is
may be stated as q curious exception
that mushrooms are found growing
luxuriantly in Colorado at an altitude
OF 10000 feet above the sea level, where
the temperature changes twenty or
thirty degrees every twenty four hours,
the thermometer often falling from
seventy to eighty degrees at MONDAY to
forty and fifty degrees at midnight.
George Paiste, the well l-known horti-
culturist of this city, has devoted con-
siderable time and attention to the
cultivation of mushrooms. Speaking
OF the subject to Press reporter he
said: Many persons are under the
impression that mushrooms grow spon-
taneously. They must have arrived at
this conclusion without making obser-
vations or else have accepted the
opinions of others that have not made q
study of the plant. Mushrooms belong
to the lower order of plant life and
reproduce themselves by going through
two or more changes similar to those
undergone by the caterpillar in the
animal life. The seed proper can be
seen by shaking an old mushroom over
white paper, when dark-colored pow
der will fall from the gills on the under
side of the mushroom. This will,
under certain conditions, produce cells
somewhat similar to the plant called
yeast, used for making bread. These
cells multiply or reproduce themselves
by division of the cells. 1t is in this
stage of the life OF the mushroom that
we control its growth and can produce
full-grown mushrooms at pleasure. At
this stage gardeners call it spawn, and
it can be kept in this condition for
Years. The manner of keeping and
I making new spawn is to take equal
parts Of fresh horse and COW manure
and old soil, with no lime in it, and
form them into cubes the size of COM
mon bricks. After the bricks have be.
come partly dry, insert pieces of spawn
one inch in diameter in each one, and
after they become perfectly dyy place
them in pile and cover them with
fresh horse manure, and leave them in
this condition for two weeks. At the
expiration of that time, it will be found
that the spawn has permeated the whole
brick, the came as a small quantity o
yeast makes larger quantity. This car
then be used for making more spawn, o.
for making. the beds for mushrooms.
"To make the beds for mushrooms
take equal parts of fresh horse manur
and old soil from q sod field containing
no lime. Mix we'll and place in layer
Of four inches and pound it with NAL
let until solid. Then place other layer
on and pound until bed of eight inche
deep is made. Place in it thermome
ter. Over one hundred degrees will b
recorded, and when the thermometer r.
cedes to ninety-fve or ninety degree
insert pieces of the spawn the size of
hens egg. burying them four inches dee
and one foot apart. Smooth the bed OF
and cover with hay or straw to retail
the heat and moisture. In ten or twelv
days remove the hay and cover the be,
with one aud half inches of soil, an
then again replace the hay. In four O
i've weeks, il the etemperature'of the be-
can be constantly kent hatuaan forty