Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1904-02-25
CHICAGO MUSHROOMS
Development Of a Unique Industry
in the Big City.
Many Tons of the Fnngoid EdibIs
Raised for Home Consumption
and shipment-someD Details
OF the Work.

I 81 ~ CEhs
Chicago has in the last few Year,
/ developed an additional claim Il
fame. 1t has become the mushroom
center of the United States and one
of the largest producers Of me edible
4 fungus In the world, reports the
/ Tribune. From the scattering cellar
beds that ten years ago produced all
/ the mushrooms grown in the city
there has developed an industry re.
curing acres Of low brick and wood
structures and the employment of
hundreds Of men and women.
For the last two or three years
/ Chicago has produced annually from
60 to IS tons Of mushrooms. The
city has itself nursed the industry
and made It what it IS, for of the
Is tons which il is estimated the city
mushroom growers will put out be
fore the present season ends, in
June, Chicago is expected 10 consume
In its hotels, clubs, restaurants and
private homes some 50 tons. This
represents the average annual con-
sumption in the city. the remainder
Of the crop being shipped to nearby
cities.
The Chicago mushroom is said TO
be much sought after by restaurants
and hotels in the larger cities of the
west and northwest because of its
superior flavor due to the high state
Of cultivation reached through ex
periments with soils and water and
temperatures by the larger growers
here.
The Chicago mushroom is also de-
clared 10 spring up just a trifie
quicker than the proverbial mush-
room. The usual time Of five or six
weeks Is required for the spawn
which is imported from Europe, 10
reach the top Of the earth, but once
the growth breaks through the soil
and into the Chicago air the mush
room makes better time in reaching
its fun growth, it is said than II
would anywhere else on earth.
The largest mushroom producer in
the city. and one Of the largest in
the world, a Chicago pioneer, whc
was born in Fort Dearborn IN 1896 |
with his son, who is now associated |
with him in the business, has housed |
in seven low brick structures, stand
ing partly under and partly over
ground, $1,000 square feet Of beds
from which during the height Of tn,
season is taken ton OF mushrooms
a week
Inside the structures are tiers
npou tiers of board floored. bunklik
beds, reaching from the gravel floor
TO the ceiling. In each bed there ]
a layer Of half a foot Of manure
with a topping of two inches of ric'
soil. Five tons Of manure and soil
are required each year for the bed
IF this one farm. Thirty womer
who during the mushroom season ac
rs pickers, are kept busy in June and
July turning the manure in the SUI
md preparing II for the beds Won
IN are hired in preference TO men
because they exhibit greater care i,
he work Of curing the manure. upon
which largely depends the success or
allure of the years crop.
The laying OF the beds Is begun il
July. the manure and soil being car
ried over the top of the buildings i,
,ars and dumped into the bed,
through traps in the roof.
Spawning the bedsffs the next oper
'tion. The Jackson beds require $1,000
pounds Of spawn. or mycelium. which
s network OF white, threadlke fiber
running through a compost Of manure
Ind loan and nodded in the form Of
! brick nine inches long, five inches
vide and two inches thick. The bricks
IRE broken mp into small pieces anc
tainted deep down in the manure.
After the spawning the grower
ponds six weeks Of anxiety over hi,
'eds, failures due TO poor spawn be
ne not unusual, The first indications I
hove ground of a successful crop ar.
catches Of white here and there. tn,
Mushroom being no larger than
in head at its first appearance above
round. II the crop is TO be par
icularly large one, the white Is pre- :
eded by a blush mold. showing in
pots over the entire he'd.
The mushrooms are picked morning
nd afternoon, packed in the evening
nd sent TO the downtown hotels
Tubs, restaurants and commission
ouses the following morning. on
he farm in Bowmanvilie the whole
orce Of 30 women is employed in pick.
ng during the busy season. II has
cen estimated that one man. 10 pick ]
he combined length of all the beds.
'ould have TO walk four miles in the
peration.