The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1916-09-30


Il as in most Of the European
lID| countries. 1t is In France
and in England that the
Hfal| mushroom industry has
MelI been best developed. France
is, properly speaking, the
home of the present mush-
room industry. Unusual in
terest has been shown in the United
States in the growth Of mushrooms
within the past few years, and it Is to
be hoped and expected that within the
next ten years the industry will de-
velop to the fullest limit Of the mar
ket demands. The latter will. Of
course, be stimulated and developed
by the increasing popular appreciation
of this product. In some cities and
towns there is already good market
demand for mushrooms, while in 9th
ers they may be sold only directly to
special customers. This should be
borne in mind by prospective growers.
Success in mushroom growing de-
ponds on intelligent study of condi-
tons and on experience. While many
American growers have been success
full in the production Of mushrooms, a
much larger number have failed. In
most cases failures have been due to
one or more of the following causes ::
~ The use of poor spawn. or of
spawn which has been killed by i'm
proper storage.
~ Spawning at a temperature in
juriously high.
(3) The use Of too much water
either at the time of spawning or later.
"a Unfavorable temperature dur
ing the growing period.
Mushrooms may be grown in any
place where the conditions of tempera-
ture and moisture are favorable. A
shed, cellar, cave or vacant space in
a greenhouse may be utilized to ad-
vantage for this purpose. The most
essential factor, perhaps, is that of
temperature. The proper temperature
ranges from 50 degrees to 60 degrees
Fahrenheit, with the best from IS de-
grees to So degrees Fahrenheit 1t is
unsafe to attempt to grow mushrooms
on commercial basis, according to
our present knowledge of the subject,
at temperature much less than 50
degrees or greater than 63 degrees
Fahrenheit. Any severe changes of
temperature retard growth or else act
injuriously, and many changes Of tenn
perature would entirely destroy the
profits of the mushroom crop. From
this it is evident that in many places
mushrooms may not be grown as
summer crop. With artificial heat they
may be grown almost anywhere
throughout the winter. Moreover, it
is very probable that in this country
Open-air culture must be limited to
few sections, and restricted, CONNER
cially Mt least, to a single season.
A second important factor is that
OF moisture. The place should not be
very damp. or constantly dripping
with water. Under such conditions
successful commercial work is not pos
sible. A place where it is possible to
maintain fairly moist condition of
the atmosphere. and having such
capability for ventilation as will cause
at least a gradual evaporation is, by
general practice and by the most ex-
tensive experimentation, shown to be
necessary. With too rapid ventilation
and the consequent necessity of re-
peated applications of water to the
mushroom bed no mushroom crop will
attain the highest perfection.
Cellars, caves and abandoned mines.
or specially constructed houses. are
used for growing mushrooms, because
in such places only can the conditions
HE4E@sNS -
ee=:@Z3