474 Report of the Horticulturist of the 



A medium clay soil furnished the loam for all soil mixtures of 

 Crops I, II and III except 6 and 6a which contained no loam. 

 With Crop IV the clay loam was compared with a very light 

 sandy loam as a basis for soil mixtures for forcing lettuce. 



Nitrogen, phosphoric acid and potash were applied equally to 

 all the soils and in quantities sufficient to insure a superabundant 

 supply of these elements of plant food. This was done so that 

 the influence of the other factors in the adaptability of soil mix- 

 tures to forcing lettuce might be brought out more clearly. Each 

 plat was given an application of high grade sulphate of potash, 

 about 50 per cent actual potash, at the rate of 400 lbs. per acre, 

 and acid phosphate, about 15 per cent available phosphoric acid, 

 at the rate of 600 lbs. per acre. About 5 weeks after the seed 

 was planted nitrate of soda was applied to each plat at the rate of 

 33 1-3 lbs. per acre. This was repeated weekly till 11 applica- 

 tions were given, making a total amount of 366 lbs. per acre. 

 The nitrate of soda was applied in solution around each plant in 

 uniform amounts till the plants became so large that they crowded 

 each other, after which the total amount for each plat was applied 

 through the tiles in subwatering. 



In the soil mixture which was tested with Crop IV wherever 

 stable manure was used it constituted one-third of the soil. In 

 one case a mixture was made which contained one-third manure, 

 one>-half sand and one-sixth clay loam. In addition tot this the 

 clay loam and the sandy loam were tried with and without stable 

 manure. All these soils were given commercial fertilizers in equal 

 amounts. 



The clay loam was composed of pretty well rotted sod of the 

 same character as that used for Crops II and III. The sand was 

 sharp and unscreened, from the shore of Seneca Lake. The sandy 

 loam was from the side of a field formerly occupied by a vineyard 

 but now planted to raspberries. It was composed chiefly of soil 

 which had been blown from the field and lodged on the sod at the 

 side of the field. The manure was from the city stables. It was 

 thoroughly mixed and pretty well rotted. 



