270 



STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY: 



2. General Fertilizer Tests. — We shall pursue this study of nitrate of 

 soda still further in the following tests of the influences of nitrogen, pot- 

 ash, and phosphorus applied separately and in combination. Eight plots 

 of six plants each, upon fairly good gravelly soil which had been sparingly 

 enriched in previous years, were treated as follows June 20, the yield 

 being given in the second column of figures: 



Table IV. — Fertilizer test, to frost. 



Plots. 6 plants each. 



Nitrate of soda, lib 



Bone black, 2 lbs 



Muriate of potash, lib .- 



Nitrate of soda, 1 lb ? 



Bone black, 2 lbs. --- ) 



[ Nitrate of soda, 1 lb - I 



' Muriate of potash, 2 lbs... ) 



i Bone black, 2 lbs -- I 



' Muriate of potash, 1 lb ) 



Nitrate of soda, lib ) 



I Bone black, 2 lbs > 



Muriate of potash, 1 lb ) 



Check - -- - -- 



Average 



number of 



fruits per 



plant. 



30.0 

 19.6 

 24.2 



20.0 

 27.5 

 21.0 



19.8 

 -23.4 



Average 

 weight of 



fruit per 

 plant — lbs. 



9.5 



5.8 

 7.7 



7.2 

 7.1 



8.8 



7.3 



8.0 



Average 

 weight of 

 individual 

 fruits— OB. 



5.0T 



4.8 



5.1 



5.7 

 4.4 



6.7 



&.* 



«.l 



Table V. — Fertilizer test, total crop. 



Plots. 6 plants each. 



1 Nitrate of soda, 1 lb 



2 Bone black, 2 lbs -- --- 



3 Muriate of potash. 1 lb- 



J ( Nitrate of soda, 1 lb.. _ ? 



* < Bone black, 2 lbs ) 



- j Nitrate of soda, lib } 



7 Muriate of potash, 2 lbs .. 5 



o 5 Bone black, 2 lbs I 



( Muriate potash, 1 lb { 



( Nitrate of soda, 1 lb 



7 < Bone black, 2 lbs , 



( Muriate of potash, 1 lb - 



8 Check ., 



Average 



number of 



fruits i)er 



plant. 



50.6 

 25.4 

 -34.6 



.35.3 

 36.0 

 29.5 



48.2 

 40.2 



Average 

 weight of 



crop per 

 plant— lbs. 



14.5 



7.2 

 9.6 



10.5 



8.0 



10.5 



14.4 

 12.6 



Average 

 weight of 

 individual 

 fruits — om. 



4.5 

 4.5 

 4.4 



4.7 

 3.« 

 5.7 



4.8 

 5.0 



The first of these tables shows that nitrate of soda gave the heaviest 

 yield before frost, and it was the only treatment which gave as good results 

 as the check plot, which had no fertilizer. It is to be observed, also, that 

 while bone black and muriate of potash gave the poorest results as single 

 fertilizers, they gave the best result of any of the combinations. If we 

 turn to table V., however, and study the total yield of the season, we notice 

 that the nitrate of soda plot has preceptably gained in proportional yield, 

 and that the best combination is No. 7, which contains nitrate of soda; but 

 the combination plot gives a trifle poorer results than the nitrate alone. 

 These two instances are also the only ones which equal or exceed the yield 

 of the no-treatment plot. These testa are a repetition of a series made in 



