34:0 Kepokt of the Horticultural DEPAiirrMENT of thh> 



NOTES ON CROrS. 



season of 1898-90. 



Rawson Hotlionso, a variety of Lead lettuce, was nsed alone 

 for the crop of 1898-99. The seed was sown Dec. 30, 1898. 

 Germination began to show Jan. 6. The plants were thinned 

 after the manner already described till but one was left in each 

 place. Within a month after planting it was evident that on the 

 check soils the lettuce was suffering from lack of food. The 

 plants were stunted and the foliage bronzed. In the clay loam 

 without manure the use of commercial fertilizers resulted in a 

 somewhat better growth, but the plants were not always as good 

 in color, nor were they in nearly so vigorous, growing condition 

 as the plants on soils treated with manure. The differences 

 between these plants and those on corresponding soils which 

 received manure was very marked. On the latter soils the 

 plants, although yet small, were healthy and growing rapidly. 

 These differences became more pronounced as the plants 

 developed. 



The entire crop was harvested Apr. 3. Each plant was cut 

 at the surface of the ground and immediately weighed. The 

 average weight per plant for each of the different treatments 

 and the ratio of the yield to the yield on the corresfjonding 

 check soil are shown in the table on page 345. It was apparent 

 that the use of the commercial fertilizers did not force the crop 

 as rapidly to laaturity as did the stable manure, although it 

 resulted in a decided gain in yield as compared with the check 

 soils. The addition of even the least amount of manure which 

 was used, 5 per ct. by weight, showed a striking increase in 

 the crop. Thus, while the 12 heads of lettuce from the soil 

 which received dried blood but no manure averaged 0.75 oz. 

 X)er head, the 12 heads on corresponding soil to which 5 per ct. 

 of manure was added weighed, on the average, 4.13 ozs. i>er 

 head. This increase is all the more significant, because the for- 

 mer had received in commercial fertilizers far more plant food 

 than a full crop contains. It indicates that the proper use of 



