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The Cultivation of Mushrooms - An Outline of Mushroom Culture
The Cultivation of Mushrooms - An Outline of Mushroom Culture
The Cultivation of Mushrooms - An Outline of Mushroom Culture
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The Cultivation of Mushrooms - An Outline of Mushroom Culture

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The art of mushroom-growing in England had been passed on from generation to generation without the development of very exact methods, and there is still considerable ignorance of some of the most important factors. This fascinating guide on mushroom-growing seeks to elucidate the most important of these factors, making it a wonderful handbook for beginners and also proving a useful reference for seasoned growers. Chapters contained within this text include: The Source of Success, Experience and Result, How the Spawn is Made, Testing the Original Spore Cultures, Selection of the Site, Preparation of Compost, Making the Beds, Spawning, Selection of Casing Soil, and many more. A fascinating and comprehensive treatise on the subject, no collection of mycological literature would be complete without a handbook such as this. Originally published in 1914, this rare antiquarian text is proudly republished here complete with its original illustrations and a new prefatory introduction to the subject.
LanguageEnglish
PublisherBenson Press
Release dateDec 1, 2020
ISBN9781528763622
The Cultivation of Mushrooms - An Outline of Mushroom Culture

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    The Cultivation of Mushrooms - An Outline of Mushroom Culture - Anon Anon

    PREFACE.

    The art of mushroom-growing in England had been passed on from generation to generation without the development of very exact methods and there is still considerable ignorance of some of the most important factors. In many agricultural or horticultural operations, the methods of our forefathers are still in use although the full explanation of their merits may not even yet be forthcoming. In mushroom-growing, the various phases of the process now employed are all, with one exception, of ancient origin, but the grower of to-day has the advantage of publications such as this which set out, after giving careful consideration, the most essential details, and give the correct methods from knowledge accumulated over many years. In former times, although the knowledge was undoubtedly there, it was the jealously-guarded secret of a very few, and reliable books giving all necessary instructions for mushroom-culture were not to be found. Consequently the instructions which were passed on by word of mouth were prone to lose some of their original accuracy.

    THE SOURCE OF SUCCESS.

    It has been mentioned above that with one exception the processes of mushroom-growing are of ancient origin. This exception is the type of spawn used, and since it is claimed that the introduction of Darlington’s 100% SPAWN, the Pure Culture Spawn, revolutionized the whole mushroom-growing industry, it may be readily understood that in this direction rapid advances have been made. It is acknowledged by all mushroom-growers that the choice of spawn is the first consideration, and when it is realised that spawn-planting is only the equivalent of sowing seeds or planting cuttings, it becomes apparent that some discretion is needed in selecting the material to sow or plant. When making a choice, whether of seeds or mushroom spawn, the strain or variety, vigour of growth, and above all production must be considered. The Pure Culture 100% Spawn provides immediate, vigorous growth of a selected variety of mushroom from every fragment planted.

    The Pure Culture 100 % Spawn lays the foundation of success, for even if all conditions are favourable good results cannot be obtained if the spawn used is of doubtful quality.

    EXPERIENCE AND RESULT.

    A period of years has been spent by the author of this booklet studying the question of spawn quality and spawn production at a cost of hundreds of pounds for experimental work. All the different makes of spawn obtainable were tested—Italian, Austrian, French, American and English—with varying results. With some, a reasonably good yield of mushrooms was obtained but in many cases the crop was poor. The result of all the experimental work was in favour of spawn which was made from germinated spores of the mushroom, this type of spawn being found far superior to all others, and which was the foundation and success of 100% Spawn.

    HOW THE SPAWN IS MADE.

    Our process of collecting and propagating mushroom spores is an exclusive method, it is carried out under exact laboratory conditions in complete freedom from contamination by other fungi, bacteria, or insects. The first step in the manufacture ensures that the spores are chosen only from maintained strains specially selected for colour, quality, and cropping ability, all these selected characters being carried in the resulting spawn without any admixture of strains. In this way, as regards colour for example, it is possible for any grower to purchase spawn of the greatest vigour to produce white, cream or brown mushrooms as he may care to order. In the subsequent stages of manufacture the medium used becomes completely filled with the mushroom mycelium which is therefore in full vigour when the process is ended. In this way one of the principal elements of chance which attended mushroom-growing in the past has been eliminated and all feeling of doubt as to the quality of the spawn has been removed. Thus, with the old type of brick-spawn for example, it was not even possible with the commercial product to tell beforehand what type of mushroom it contained nor was it certain that all parts of the brick would grow.

    The special process under which the Pure Culture 100% Spawn is made ensures the fullest amount of quality mycelium being incorporated in the sterilised medium. For convenience, the medium is contained in special glass containers and the spawn, when removed and packed ready for distribution, is contained in cartons moist or dried. Every part of the medium is penetrated by the mycelium and the spawn, if dried while dormant, retains all the elements of vigorous germination; it is unimpared in its vitality and productiveness.

    The sterilisation of all utensils and materials used in the manufacture of the Pure Culture 100% Spawn ensures its perfect purity and total absence of all danger due to insect eggs, flies, weed seeds, moulds, fungus diseases, and even bacteria, right up to the time of being packed in cartons

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