Page 154 - One Thousand Ways to Make $1000

mushrooms. I increased my mushroom beds with the profit from this first
crop and soon had one thousand square feet in production. At forty-five cents
a pound, I easily sold the entire crop. As I have no rent, overhead, special
equipment, or marketing expenses, I enjoy an advantage over the commercial
grower.

“Up to that time, the local market held up well, and there appeared to be no
reason why I should not increase my growing space. Many of the companies
from which spawn is purchased are also commission merchants with branch
mushroom receiving stations located throughout the country. Some of the
companies will agree to purchase all the mushrooms produced by home
growers and resell them to local stores. This, of course, helps the grower to
secure a ready market for his product at the current wholesale market price.
Moreover, they pay the shipping charges on shipments of five pounds or
more. With an assured market I increased the size of my mushroom beds,
using more of the space formerly wasted about my home. The pure white
variety of patented mushroom I have been raising brings top prices for my
crops. I was lucky, I guess, when I picked out this particular variety.”

Mushrooms are easily raised as they require but little attention. Sunshine not
being essential to their development, they will grow as well under the cellar
stairs as in a pleasantly lighted room. In fact, bright sunlight is really not
desirable according to experienced growers. The market for mushrooms is
wide and profitable. The ability to supply fresh stock at all times, and give
quick delivery service, insures attractive profits.

The cost of “spawn” for raising a pound of mushrooms varies between four
and one-half and six cents. Persons shipping to wholesale and commission
houses find sufficient profit margin between the prices received and their
actual cost, to operate profitably. Generally, the best plan is to sell some of
your crop in your own community, at higher prices, and to ship the
remainder.

Practically any mushroom spawn today will grow in ordinary cellars or sheds
wherever it is possible to maintain a fairly even temperature. The temperature
should be from 55 to 70 degrees according to the period of growth of the