— ii6 — 



rior to those from the other plats. During the whole season plat I 

 continued to hold its superiority. In point of earliness plats II 

 and III were about the same. 



On October loth the average total yield per plant was as fol- 

 lows : 



Plat I, heavily manured, 12.7 lbs. 



II, nitrate of soda, 9. i lbs. 



III, no fertilizer, 6.8 lbs. 



There was a marked diflference between plats I and III in the 

 shape of the fruits. The Ignotum is the " smoothest," most regu- 

 lar, of our large tomatoes, yet on the unfertilized plat the fruits 

 .showed a decided tendency to become angled. Fig. 2, plate II, 

 is a faithful representation of this tendency. The cul on the left 

 shows representative fruits from plat III, while the other cut 

 shows fruits from plat I. It will be interesting to determine if this 

 variation .shows any tendency to become hereditar3^ 



It is evident, from the foregoing facts, that heavy manuring for 

 tomatoes may result in decided benefits ; yet it is possible that the 

 character of the soil or season may have much to do with the be- 

 havior of the plants under these conditions. The soil upon which 

 this test was conducted is a high gravelly loam which had been 

 well enriched for a number of years. The season was very wet, 

 yet the plats never suffered from too much water. As a whole, the 

 season has been a cold one. 



The manuring of plat I was excessive, nearly three tons of good 

 manure having been applied to a space 60x30 ft., which was al- 

 ready rich. It is important to determine if this excessive fertiliz- 

 ing gives better results than ordinary treatment. An area adjoin- 

 ing plat I, and .similar to it in fertility, was also planted to Igno- 

 tum. This area, in common with the general tomato plantation, 

 was given a good dressing of stable manure, — one fourth or less as 

 copious as that given plat I. These plants were similar to those 

 in plat I in earliness, and the average total yield per plant \\s.s 

 12.5 lbs., or only about three oimces less than in the very heavily 

 manured patch. The gain due to the very heavy dressing is there- 

 fore not sufficient to pay for the extra cost. But if excessive manur- 

 ing does not greatly increase yield, neither does it always tend to 

 an unprofitable production of vine at the expense of yield and ear- 

 liness, as is commonly supposed. 



