Mushroom Growing
Book Details
Author(s)B. M. Duggar
ISBN / ASINB006YU0NJI
ISBN-13978B006YU0NJ6
Sales Rank1,651,875
MarketplaceUnited States 🇺🇸
Description
FOREWORD
My attention was directed to the culture and use of mushrooms about 15 years ago. Since that time I have followed the problems of mushroom growing and exploitation with increasing interest, especially since undertaking the improvement of spawn-making methods and the establishment of spawn-making on a ''pure culture" basis in this country. During this interval I have had the privilege of meeting many persons who have been closely associated with all the different phases of the more important successful and unsuccessful mushroom industries, and likewise with those who have attempted to encourage a more wide-spread appreciation of mushrooms. It is necessary to add that, unfortunately, among the persons whose interests have centered in this work no small number have been found who have used the general ignorance regarding mushrooms and mushroom culture as a means of duping the public. At present, however, education in regard to the requirements of the work is making rapid advances.
While much has been accomplished for the dissemination of information on this subject, through the publication of brief agricultural bulletins, there remains the need of further discussion on mushrooms and mushroom growing. There are already many mushroom books, a few of these on mushroom growing, and many which primarily assist in the identification of mushrooms, but a long experience and a wide correspondence with those interested in mushroom growing have convinced me that a gap remains to be filled. In fact, it seems that there is pressing need for a small volume which shall endeavor briefly to do several things; namely,
(a) First, and chiefly, to describe accurately and faithfully the requirements for success in mushroom culture and spawn-making. In this connection I have endeavored to offer some extended observations upon the best practices of the mushroom growers of the present time, formulating also my personal experience with experimental and commercial production. The widespread interest in the habits of the cultivated mushroom, and educational considerations as well, make it necessary, incidentally, to present an untechnical but fairly complete picture of the life relations of this important fungus.
(b) Secondly, it has seemed an appropriate opportunity to awaken, if possible, the interest of the grower in some of the more important and widely distributed genera and species of mushrooms. If knowledge of a few forms is once attained it will stimulate further interest and confidence in more detailed observation and study. The groups of fungi discussed, include primarily, those which are edible and readily distinguished. They are all economic plants of our woods and fields worthy of being known by every one.
(c) Finally, there have been incorporated brief accounts of certain cultural practices and exploitations in foreign countries, including some observations on European truffles, African and Asiatic ter-fas, and a general description of the foreign markets for wild mushrooms.
My chief hope is that the information herein offered will be found suggestive and accurate. In this case (i) it will be helpful to those already growing mushrooms for the home or commercially; (2) it will encourage and stimulate interest in others qualified to succeed in this work; and (3) at the same time, it is equally desired that it will prove discouraging to those who have erred in analyzing their interest, and positively disheartening to those wholly inexperienced persons, who, misled by extravagant and deceitful advertisers, are willing to invest their savings in a venture regarding the status of which they do not take time to investigate.
To those who might have wished a more detailed discussion of certain scientific problems intimately related to mushroom growing, it may be said that it has not been found practicable to include such matter in the present volume.
....
My attention was directed to the culture and use of mushrooms about 15 years ago. Since that time I have followed the problems of mushroom growing and exploitation with increasing interest, especially since undertaking the improvement of spawn-making methods and the establishment of spawn-making on a ''pure culture" basis in this country. During this interval I have had the privilege of meeting many persons who have been closely associated with all the different phases of the more important successful and unsuccessful mushroom industries, and likewise with those who have attempted to encourage a more wide-spread appreciation of mushrooms. It is necessary to add that, unfortunately, among the persons whose interests have centered in this work no small number have been found who have used the general ignorance regarding mushrooms and mushroom culture as a means of duping the public. At present, however, education in regard to the requirements of the work is making rapid advances.
While much has been accomplished for the dissemination of information on this subject, through the publication of brief agricultural bulletins, there remains the need of further discussion on mushrooms and mushroom growing. There are already many mushroom books, a few of these on mushroom growing, and many which primarily assist in the identification of mushrooms, but a long experience and a wide correspondence with those interested in mushroom growing have convinced me that a gap remains to be filled. In fact, it seems that there is pressing need for a small volume which shall endeavor briefly to do several things; namely,
(a) First, and chiefly, to describe accurately and faithfully the requirements for success in mushroom culture and spawn-making. In this connection I have endeavored to offer some extended observations upon the best practices of the mushroom growers of the present time, formulating also my personal experience with experimental and commercial production. The widespread interest in the habits of the cultivated mushroom, and educational considerations as well, make it necessary, incidentally, to present an untechnical but fairly complete picture of the life relations of this important fungus.
(b) Secondly, it has seemed an appropriate opportunity to awaken, if possible, the interest of the grower in some of the more important and widely distributed genera and species of mushrooms. If knowledge of a few forms is once attained it will stimulate further interest and confidence in more detailed observation and study. The groups of fungi discussed, include primarily, those which are edible and readily distinguished. They are all economic plants of our woods and fields worthy of being known by every one.
(c) Finally, there have been incorporated brief accounts of certain cultural practices and exploitations in foreign countries, including some observations on European truffles, African and Asiatic ter-fas, and a general description of the foreign markets for wild mushrooms.
My chief hope is that the information herein offered will be found suggestive and accurate. In this case (i) it will be helpful to those already growing mushrooms for the home or commercially; (2) it will encourage and stimulate interest in others qualified to succeed in this work; and (3) at the same time, it is equally desired that it will prove discouraging to those who have erred in analyzing their interest, and positively disheartening to those wholly inexperienced persons, who, misled by extravagant and deceitful advertisers, are willing to invest their savings in a venture regarding the status of which they do not take time to investigate.
To those who might have wished a more detailed discussion of certain scientific problems intimately related to mushroom growing, it may be said that it has not been found practicable to include such matter in the present volume.
....
