The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1912-08-02
HOW TO GROW MUSHROOMS.
Q. a. G. Vegetable Garden Expert
Gives Good Advice.


Gives, Good Advice.
Oregon Agricultural College, Cor
wallis Mushrooms, 30 delectable as a
garnish for . tender steak, are not
grown so generally as they would be if
it were not that 70 many gardeners
have a Wholesome fear Of '.toadstool
poisoning" Though there are nu-
merous wild mushrooms which are ed
ible, some Of them much preferred to
the species usually grown for market,
one who wishes to be absolutely safe
may obtain the Agaricus Campestris,
the kind grown commercially. The
color Of the gills (the under surface
of the cap) is creamy white, turning
later to pink. and in some brown
varieties to grayish brown, ana later
still to black.
Pruf. A. G. B. Bouquet, the vege-
table garden expert at the Oregon Ag-
ricultural college, has prepared the
following suggestions and advice for
those interested in the cultivation Of
mushrooms.
The cultivation Of mushrooms for
commercial purposes Is q more or less
uncertain affair."" says Prof. Bouquet.
The common causes for failure
is the use of poor spawn or spawn
killed by improper storage: spawning
at temperature injuriously high;
use Of too much water at spawning
time or later; and improper prepara-
tion of the bed. There is no use try
ing to raise mushrooms if you do not
start right. If the bed does not
heat, if the manure was not right,
and if spawning is done before the
heat is low enough, the heat will kill
the spawn.
In mushroom growing one Of the
first requisites is to secure fresh, re-
liable spawn. Most of the spawn
used in this country is imported, be-
ing grown in England and France, but
there is considerable amount of good
American spawn also put on the mar
ket which is usually quite reliable.
The important thing is to secure the
so-called virgin spawn, or new
growth of Mycelium Of the Agaricos
Campestris. This spawn can be OBJ
tanned from reliable seedsmen or from
certain mushroom spawn dealers in
various parts Of the United States.
The customary price is 81 for enough
spawn for 80 square feet.
Mushrooms may be grown in any
place where the conditions Of temper
ature and moisture are favobable. A
shed, cave, cellar or any vacant space
in greenhouse may be utilized to adj
vantage. The most essential factor
is the obtaining Of proper temperature,
which should range from So to 60 de-
grees, IS to So degrees being best.
tThe second most important factor
| is that of moisture. The place should
not be very damp, although q moist
atmosphere is desirable for the best
growth of the fungus. In selecting a
place in which to grow mushrooms it
will be necessary to consider that the
cold is less injurious to mushrooms
than heat. This accounts for many
mushroom houses being constructed
half below the ground SO that there is
less trouble in keeping down the tenn
perature. Cold may render the bed
unproductive for time, but heat
stimulates the spawn to too rapid
growth. The season Of the year at
which mushrooms are usually grown
is early spring or summer, as well as
in fall and early winter. They may
be produced the year around, however,
| in properly constructed houses. Light
! is usually excluded from the mushroom
houses, but a little light may be al
lowed that one may be able to work
among and harvest the mushrooms.
The color of the product will be ma
terially improved by darkness.
"Suitable manure must be used in
| the preparation Of the beds. It must
be in the primary stages of fermenta-
ton. and, if possible, should not con-
tain more than a moderate amount of
straw or bedding, or Of such substitu-
| ties as sawdust or shavings. When the
manure is first obtained it should be
piled in q heap three or four feet
high. and if it is dry it should be. wa
tered slightly go "a to start fermenta-
tion. In four or FIVE days it should
he turned, and q second turning is al
80 necessary in seven or ten days.
This is to permit Of even fermentation
and 70 prevent it from burning in
spots. In fifteen days or three weeks
| the temperature will begin to fall, the
fermentation will have been uniformly
started, and the compost will be ready
for the beds.
tsIt is customary to make the beds
about three and . half by four feet
ana ten to twelve inches deep with
boards on the outside to hold the
manure. When put into the beds the
manure should not be wet or dry, but
NAV be moist. The only practical test
e be relied upon for miosture content
4 that Of pressure when water can
not readily be squeezed out the com.
most Is IN condition. Il may be piled
Is LAYERS of four or ak inches and
IaIichtly packed 50 that there may be
Notable Wedding Anniversary.
A golden wedding celebrated at
| Rothesay. Buteshire, England, the
Iother day, possessed several notable
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