174 Report of State Board of Horticulture. 



But five of these beds were continued through the year, the sixth having 

 been disturbed by the digging of plants for sale. Tables 1 to 5, inclusive, 

 give the results of the first year's work (1897). 



The second year (1898) the plats were reduced to three in number, one 

 on good strawberry soil, one on meadow land, and one on good wheat 

 land. Tables 6 to 8, inclusive, give results of the second year's work. 

 In 1899, no experiments were made, in 1897 and 1898, the plats were of 

 various sizes, but in the tables below (Nos. 1 to 8) the fertilizers and 

 yields are figured to the acre. 



The third year (1900), in order to have all conditions as nearly perfect 

 as possible, the department made arrangements to control a one-acre plat 

 of strawberries in three different localities. With this area it was possible 

 to have larger tests and to control cultivation. These plats are given as 

 tables 9 to 11, inclusive. 



Experiment No. 1 (1897). 

 <S'o(7 (jravclly loam, two years from meadow. Season fairly dry. 



Plat 1. Two hundred pounds wood ashes; yield, five thousand eight 

 hundred and ninety-one quarts. 



Plat 2. Four hundred pounds wood ashes; yield, six thousand five hun- 

 dred and thirty-five quarts. (Plat 2 shows a gain of six hundred and 

 forty-four quarts over plat 1. This at five cents per quart is an increase 

 of $32.20, at an expenditure of $1.) 



Plat 3. Three hundred pounds muriate potash; yield, six thousand six 

 hundred and one quarts. 



Plat 4. Six hundred pounds muriate potash; yield, seven thousand three 

 hundred and ninety-three quarts. 



Plat 5. Nine aundred pounds muriate potash; yield, eight thousand 

 three hundred and eighty-three quarts. (Plat 5 shows, in comparison with 

 plat 3 a money gain of $89.10 at five cents per quart, for an outlay of $12.50.) 



Experiment No. 2 (1897). 

 Soil gravelly garden. Season fairly dry. 



Plat 1. Five hundred pounds dissolved rock; yield, six thousand two 

 hundred and twenty-seven quarts. 



Plat 2. One thousand pounds dissolved rock; yield, seven thousand three 

 hundred and twenty-two quarts. (Plat 2 shows a gain of one thousand 

 and ninety-five quarts. At an expense of $10, an added value of $54.75 

 was secured.) 



Plat 3. Five hundred pounds muriate potash; yield, six thousand nine 

 hundred and nine quarts. 



Plat 4. Two hundred and fifty pounds nitrate soda; yield, six thousand 

 two hundred and eighty-nine quarts. 



Plat 5. Two hundred and fifty pounds muriate potash, two hundred and 

 fifty pounds nitrate soda; yield, seven thousand and ninety-four quarts. 

 (Gain with potash and muriate together, eight hundred and five quarts; 

 at five cents per quart, $40.25.) 



Experiment No. 3 (1897). • 



Very stony, apparently deficient in humus. Season fairly dry. 



Plat 1. Five hundred pounds muriate potash; yield, four thousand two 

 hundred and eighty-six quarts. 



