Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-10-13
MUSHROOM GROWING
An Industry Which is Being Devel-
oped Around Washington.
A READY MARKET FOR TEE PRODUCT
Care and Work Required to Sue.
cessfuIiy Cultivate Them.
T THRIVING IN THE DARK

Mushroom culture has become q profitable
! industry in this section of the country dur
ing recent years. Few people are aware Of
the extent to which the industry is carried
on in the District and adjacent counties.
The crop. like all other crops to be gathered
by the gardener, is by no means a certain
one, and this is probably one reason why
IT ore persons are not engaged in the bust
ness. But grower who has a good crop is
fully compensated for his trouble, for the
mushrooms require little or no artificial heat,
nor do they require sunlight. For these rea-
sons gardeners are able to utilize their dark
places for their culture. The culture of the
mushroom has been sadly neglected. not
only IN this section, but in all other parts OF
the United States. so the growers say.
With proper attention to the business, there
could easily be enough mushrooms grown
here to supply the local demand. 1t is as
serted that some Of the so-called imported
| canned goods are nothing but manufactured
mushrooms without even the semblance of
the genuine flavor.
DR.. Seys, health officer Of Springfield,
Ohio. who is interested in the culture of
mushrooms, urges increased attention to
them as crop likely to increase the in
come and food supply of the poor of this
country. While culture Is doubtless prifit-
able, the doctor says that IN Ohio thousands
of tons of good mushrooms go to waste
every year.
Said DIR. Seys in a recent interview:
The fact that some varieties are poison
Gus deters the people from eating the va
r1eties that are not poisonous. The reckless
assertion is sometimes made by invincibly
ignorant persons that the only way to dts
tfnguish the edible mushroom from the
poisonous toadstool Is to eat it, but this Is
ridiculous There are ways of distinguish
ing the good from the bad. and persons who
give attention to the subject have no diff
Guilty in applying infaiible tests 1t is
highly desirable for persons anxious to help
the poor to disseminate information of a
practical character in regard to mush-
rooms. The agricultural bureau at Wash
ington would perform n valuble service il II
would put out simple pamphlet-not a
tedious scientific volume-on this topic. CIV
Ing few plain tests and directions for the
use Of the practical people who are interest
ed In the addition Of new article to our
food supply"
Folks Who Have Doubts.
1t has been only a few years since mush-
rooms were locked upon by the average
buyer who attended market as an extreme
ly doubtful article of diet. Even now there
are persons who would no more think of
buying them than they would think of tax
ing home 50 much sure poison. But they
bring high prices-too high, perhaps, for
persons with slender purses, for the supply
Is by no means equal to the demand Along
the line OF country people In the market
and more especially among the old colored
women who handle all sorts Of herbs and a
lew vegetables and wild flowers the field
mushrooms are to be found. These people
no doubt fully understand the difference be-
tween the genuine mushroom and the fun
gus commonly known as the toad stool"
and what are gathered and sold by them
can generally be relied upon as being of the
true mushroom family. Mushrooms gath
10 orl1
to 10 cents a quart, which would probably
be at the rate Of about 80 cents a pound
while the cultivated article will readily
bring twice this amount
AT this season of the year. when mush-
rooms are supposed to be plentiful none of
the meadows about the city are neglected
Inc amateur gatherer. as well as those who
make a business of collecting mushrooms
Tor the market, Is in the field early in the
morning. Most of the Italian, as well as a
few French residents. appreciate the value
or mushrooms. and 1t is not an unusual oc-
currence for a whole family OF Italians to
spend a day or two in the country at this
ceason and gather several bushels of them
Tor winter use. The mushrooms so collect
ed are cut In strips and put through a dry
ing process, and then In winter they are
sold in the Italian and French stores The
dried mushrooms are used in gravies and
steWs, ana some persons use them for stews
without the use of anything but eondi-
inents and perhaps a little milk
There are probably a dozen persons in
and about the District who now make a
business of growing mushrooms There Is
one man who has made a success of grow
Ing mushrooms inside the city limits This
grower Is Mr. Hewlett who lives In South
washington. and his beds are in his cell
lar, under his dwelling house. Ordinarily
In cold weather he raises quite a good crop
Ihere are two growers near Tenleytown,
10 N Iarf
counties. and some fine crops have been
raised on the farm of the late Col Riyes
at Rives' station. Mr.. Barnabas Bryan of
A Al Is perhaps the largest grower
OF mushrooms in the District, his beds COW
ering large space. Mr.. Bryan is a grower
OF vegetables. devoting his energies to the
culture OF products for the winter market
when prices range much higher than during
the summer season. During the past two
or three years he has paid particular at
tention to the culture of mushrooms and
last season proved a profitable one. Not
only did his crop turn out to be a plentiful
one, but the prices obtained were good
averaging a dollar a pound
HIS mushroom beds are in dark rooms
all the available space beneath the veg
etable beds In the green houses and cellars
being utilized for this purpose Mushroom
culture requires considerable work and at
tention. To grow them heat from a fur
mace Is not necessary. the manure that is
used furnishing all the heat required Be
fore this manure Is spread on the bottom
Of the shallow bed 1t is mixed with soil
and has to be handled several times, so
that 1t will not make the temperature of
the bed too great, and thereby kill the
spawn that Is planted. On top of this mix
ture Is put coating of rich soil, and this Is
allowed to remain until 1t is of the proper
temperature, anywhere from 10 to 100 de-
grees. Then the mushroom spawn. sold by
seedsmen. Is broken In small pieces and
planted. This spawn Is prepared I'm France
and this country. but the former country
furnishes most of what is used here al
though New York firm engaged In its
preparation Is said to be doing a thriving
business.
Care Ina Growing.
The spawn is put in this mixture Of about
two parts earth and one part manure, and
| then the temperature has to be watched
When sprouting or running" as the grow
| ers call It, begins. then Is the critical time,
| and the temperature must be tested every
| few hours. II the proper temperature and
moisture are not maintained at this time
death to the fiber-iike growth will ensue
and the labor expended is lost. The plants
mrst have darkness and plenty of ventila-
ton. A covering of straw over the beds is
deemed important, for in this way It is
easier to keep the beds at the proper tenn
4 Ro hA A-lu