|
F. C. Atkins We used to crop our houses for 15 weeks. At that time, 10 years ago, we operated a 27 weeks' cycle, made up of 9 weeks from filling to first picking, 15 weeks cropping and 3 weeks to empty, sterilize and fill again. This meant that we cropped each house about twice a year. We realised that 9 weeks from filling to first picking was excessive, and as we gained experience we were able eventually to shorten the period to 8 weeks. At the same time we attempted to reduce the " turn round " period from three weeks to one, but we were constantly frustrated—and are to this day—by the irregular deliveries of manure. A delay of only one week may not appear to be a serious matter to the agents who supply mushroom growers with manure, but it means to us at to-day's prices a gross annual loss equivalent to one-third of our total manure bill. One -of the big attractions of a synthetic compost, provided its yield is as good as horse-manure, is the prospect it gives of our being able to fill a house on a given date.
Full text download: ISMS subscribers
ISHS members & other users
|