31 



Doen nitrate of soda hicreusc the i/lchl nt the expense of maturity? — Tlio 

 total yield and tlic total value of the crop were lar<;er in every case 

 where nitrate of soda was used. The yield and value of "early" 

 tomatoes (picked between July 7 and August 5) were also larger where 

 the nitrate was used, except in the two cases where 10 pounds of nitrate 

 of soda was ai)plied all atone time. In these two cases the average yield 

 of early tomatoes was the same as that of the unfertilized plats. How- 

 ever, while the yield of early tomatoes was (with two exceptions) larger 

 with nitrate of soda, the percentage of early tomatoes in the whole crop 

 was lower with the nitrate than with barnyard manure or no fertilizer. 

 The nitrate, therefore, "did not increase the maturity in the same ratio 

 as the yield." 



In the oi)inion of the autlnn- the results of this experiment "empha- 

 size the general conclusions reached last year: (1) That nitrate of soda 

 did not increase the yield at the expense of money value of early 

 tomatoes when applied in small <|nantities [8 pounds per plat], or in 

 large quantities [10 pounds per plat| in two applications. This was 

 e<pially true for nitrate of soda both when used alone and when used in 

 connection with i)hosp]ioric acid and potash. (L5) That nitrate of soda 

 did increase the yield at the expense of nionej' value of early tomatoes, 

 when large quantities were added in one application, in the presence of 

 a sullicient excess of phosphoric acid ami potash." 



Influenre of season on the effect of nitrate of soda. — It is stated that 

 in 1890, while the yield of early tomatoes on the unfertilized plats was 

 80. t i>er cent ami their value 77.5 per cent higher than that of the pre- 

 ceding year, the yield of eaily pickings where nitrate of soda was used 

 was only 55.8 per cent and their value 25.5 per cent greater than in 1880. 

 Therefore, " while the relative etfect of nitrate of soda is the same each 

 year for the different <piantitiesand methods of api»lication, the actual 

 effect on both yield and value of early tomatoes was much less in 1800 

 than in 1880." 



For (comparison, the yield and value of the total crop from each plat 

 in 1880 and 1800 are tabulated. 



LTlictaMe] shows that tho avcrajjo iiioroaso in tot.-il yi«l<l, diio to nitr.ate manuring, 

 was "21)7 baskl^ts or tO pt^r cent in ISHI), and '.VMi baskets or 4"i.l per cent in 1890. In 

 other words, tlie application of an averaj^o of '210 ponnils of nitrate of soda per aero 

 produced in 188'J, 207 baskets of tomatoes, and in IH'JO, :VM\ baskets. The increased 

 etlect of an equal amount of nitioj;en as nitrate in 1890 over 188<» w.as therefore 

 equivalent to IKMtaskets of tomatoes or ;}:?.:{ per cent. • » « The increased yield 

 of IWC) baskets or 42.1 per cent, in 1800 increased the value of the tot.al crop but 

 $10G.08 or 20 percent, while the increase in yield of 297 baskets or 40 percent, in 1880 

 increased the value of the total crop by $110.06 or 4G.2 percent. It is clearly shown, 

 therefore, that under the conditions which existed this year the nitrate of soda was 

 more completely used by the crop than in 1880, but resulted in produce of lower value. 

 These results are chielly of interest in sliowing the inlluence of season, and do not 

 chauRc the general conclusion iu regard to the value of nitrate of soda as a fertilizer 

 for tomatoes. 



