How to Grow Mushrooms

1897

Farmers' Bulletin Number 53

National Agricultural Library

The mushroom in commerce is practically the fruit of the mushroom plant, and not the plant itself, as some might be led to believe. The plant proper is a white or bluish white mold, called mycelium, or, in garden language, spawn, that grows in fields and manure piles. In its younger stage it becomes a network of white threads, and it is from the joints on these threads that the mushrooms spring. In growing the crop, therefore, it is important to keep the mycelium, or spawn, alive and spreading, and where this is done the production of mushrooms is sure to follow.

Mushrooms are a winter crop, coming in from September till April or May — that is, the work of preparing the manure begins in September and ends in February, and the packing of the crop begins in October or November and ends in May. Under extraordinary conditions the season may begin earlier and last longer, and in fact it may continue all summer.

Mushrooms are easy to grow and beginners are often as successful with them as are those having an extensive experience. Success depends
upon general conditions, good materials, interest in the business, intelligent management, and persistent application. However, all these conditions' are just as necessary in the successful and profitable raising of sheep, poultry, fruit, grain, or garden truck as they are in the mushroom industry. Aside from preparing the manure and making up the beds, it is a clean crop to handle and occupies little space, and so far as the general routine attention required by the beds and the gathering, sorting, packing, and marketing of the mushrooms are concerned, the women of the household can do the work as well as the men.

U.S. Department of Agriculture