MUSHROOMS.

Waipa Post, Volume 52, Issue 3705, 10 January 1936, Page 10

MUSHROOMS.

Those who go in for indoor mushroom culture should now be arranging their supplies of horse manures so as to start making heaps toward the beginning cf February. Beds made up in the first week of March usually start cropping in May, which means that one ought to be able to pick mushrooms from May to September—when they are dearest. Horse manure used for mushroom beds should be fresh, and should not have been exposed to the weather. Rain saturated manure is useless. Get manure from grain-fed horses, if possible, and from stables where they do not use disinfectants or medicines. Having got the manure together, the operation known as composting must now commence. Where possible, this should always be done under cover, as it is very difficult to make out cf doors, owing to weather conditions. Both hot sun and rain do harm. The manure should not be merely covered with corrugated sheets, either, because this causes the compost to be wet in the top layers.

As soon as the manure is in the open shed, shake it out with a fork to break up the large lumps. During this turning any sticks, stones, string, etc., should be thrown out, and while turning, sprinkle the manure with water until it is fairly wet. At this time of the year more water can be used than later.

As the forkfuls are shaken out they are put into heaps, say, 3 feet high and 6 feet wide. Leave sufficient space for the next turning, which will have to be made in the shed also. The heap should be ready to turn again in 10-12 days. The manure is taken from the top of the original heap, shaken out as before and the lumps are again broken up. The idea is to turn the inside to the outside and the top to the bottom. Never try to get a firm heap at this stage. Water the heap with a rose if the compost is not wet enough, but don’t get the straw sodden.

In another six days the heap should be ready to turn again. Plunge a thermometer- into the centre of it and when the temperature has exceeded 140 F. the next turning may begin. Go on turning in this way 5 or 6 times, until the manure is free from any smell and yet hot and steam-, ing. The straw should be dark brown and not in too short pieces.

Take up some of the manure in your hand and squeeze it. If right, it will hold together when the hand is opened again, and yet it will be impossible to squeeze any moisture out of it. The palm of your hand should be moist.

Take a good quantity of the compost in both hands and give a twist in opposite directions. The straw should break easily. If you have to tug or tear, the manure is not “ ready.”

When the manure is in the right condition it can be taken, while the heap is still hot, into the mushroom shed, cellar, or whatever building is being used.