The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-05

Deep down in an abandoned work.
ing of Greenwood mine No. 1, down
in darkness that is stygian and in
an atmosphere that is damp and un-
healthy, there flourishes one of the
most curious industries in northeast
ern Pennsylvania and an industry the
sole proprietor of which Is an aged
man. bent with years.
This industry is a mushroom farm.
where are grown all the mushrooms
used In this city and lovers of these
delicate vegetables say that the kind
grown there rank with the finest to be
found in any part Of the country.
The name of the man who presides
over this peculiar farm is Thomas
Williams and he Is 65 years old and a
resident of West Scranton. Having
long been a grower of mushrooms in
a small way at his home, he con-
ceived the idea early last summer Of
cultivating them on a large scale and
having heard of the celebrated sub
teranean caves which abound UNDER
meath the city of Paris and which are
used for the growing of mushrooms,
he thought of the many abandoned
mine workings in this vicinity which
are admirably suited for the purpose.
LOCATED HIS FARM.
brief consultation with the officials
of the Greenwood Coal company Sc
cured him the free use of the place
which he now has located in the old
Top Lift vein of the Greenwood mine.
Two of the most important essentials
of successful mushroom culture are an
even temperature and complete dark
ness, both of which features are pos
sessed by mine workings. The space
used by Mr.. williams is a gangway
about 160 feet long and eight feet
wide. This is carefully boarded up
at both ends to prevent any possible
varying Of the temperature.
A narrow aisle runs through the
centre and on each side of this are
the beds. These are about n foot and
a half in height and are composed of
rich manure. The mushrooms may be
seen in all stages of development;
some just sticking their heads through
the top and others full grown AMI
ready to be clipped off.
After the beds have been prepared
the spawn or seed is put in. This
comes in large bricks and is cut into
little cubes an inch square which are
planted about eight inches apart. The
bed must be no hotter than 80 degrees
when these are put in. or. as Mr.. Will
liams puts it with voice full of wis.,
dom, They'll burn up"
PREPARING THE BEDS.
After the spawn has been placed in,
rich loan to the depth of two inches,
Is placed on top and nature does the
rest. 1t is generally about four weeks
before the crop is ready sfor harvest
and it then yields steadily for three
months at the end of which time the
bed must be freshly prepared again
and new spawn sown.
Mr.. Williams is on hand every day
carefully nursing and caring for the
mushrooms and it Is an eery and un-
canny sight to see him pottering over
the beds in the dim and uncertain
light of miners lamp. BY the use of
O. small stove he Is enabled to keep
the temperature at 81 degrees which
he says is the proper one.
The daily yield of this unique farm
is about five pounds which he sells
at seventy-five cents a pound. his GUS
toners being market men and q num-
ber of private families. Almost every
pleasant Sunday the place Is visited
by a number Of persons desrous of
seeing mushrooms in q state of culti-
walton.