880 



Mr. Gill's experiment "• was not altosetlier satisfa<'t()rv. oitlicr in re- 

 gard to early yield or ]nices, the cold weatlier in May serionsly retard- 

 ing growth and the juices in Jnly being much lower than nsiial/' 



The total yield of early tomatoes was very largely increased on all jdats treated 

 withuitrate; minerals alone on plat 6 were also deeidedly l»en<'ficial, though tlieir 

 nee iu eonnecrion with nitrate of soda seemed to reduce rather than increase the 

 total yield. Harnyard iiinnure on ]ilat 11 did not materially inllMence tlie yield, and 

 iu this respect tlic results agree witli those secured iu the cxjieriuient of ISSit. Tho 

 average yield of early tomatoes on the [un("ertili/ed] jdats agreed closely. I'siiig 

 this yield as a basis of coiuiiarisun, it is sliown tliat nitrate of soda decidedly inlhi- 

 enccd maturity, antl that the modifying factors were mainly ijuantity apjilied and 

 method of use, i. r. whether a]>|died ah>ne or in conn<-ctioii with the mineral ele- 

 ments — phosphoric acid and j>otash. 



The results do not seem to liave heeu iu any way iullucm-cd by fractional ajiplica- 

 tions of tlie nitrate of soda. " 



The tinal and vital test of increased maturity is, howi-vcr. ha.sed ui)on liuaniial 

 consideratitms, for the yield up to a ci-rtaiu ihite may he increased in ]iroper proi»or 

 tion and still not be inopdrtionatcly increased in value. » ^ » 



By tile use of nitrate of soda alone [lt>npounils ]ier acrcj the yield was increased 

 2V.i.'2 ]iounds i>r X|.5 pei- cent, and the value •fS.Jts ur 71.7 i>er cent; with nitrate of 

 Hoda [!(>(• pounds) in cun nee tion with minerals, the yield was increased Hi7.5iiounds ur 

 Hfi. I ]ier cent, and the value $'A.0\ or .">(>. ."i per cent ; with uitrat*' of soda ahun- [.S2n 

 pounds] the yield was increased 12t>.l |iounds i»r .'>0 jier cent, and the value $I.X!I or 

 35.5 per cent: with uitrat«- of soda ['.VJO jioumls] in eounecliun wilh minerals the 

 yield was increased but 60. :> pountls or L';?.!tper cent, and the v.ilue 7>i) eenls or !•. I jier 

 cent ; minerals alone iucrease<l the yield \'.i\.'J pounds nr 5S.J jur cent, ;niil tin* value 

 $;{.fM! or .">7. 1 percent. In oilier wunls. the miuiey value <»f early tomatoes inereasi-d 

 in jHopurtiou to the increased yield only when small i|uautilies of nitrate of soda were 

 use<l either abuu- or in conneetitui witli minerals, wiiile with larg< quantities the 

 money value of early tomatoes wa,s relatively le.ss than the incre.tsed yield. Krom tin 

 standjiointof nu>ney value, maturity was])roportionately increa.sed bysnialli|u.'intitie.> 

 of nitrate of so«Ia, however used, and luoportiouately decreased when large ipianti- 

 ties weriMised. while the actual money value of the early t(MMatocswa> greater iu all 

 the groujjs with nitrate than ujion tlie unfertili/ed laud. 



The results this year indicate that nitrate of soda «lid not incrcnse the yicbl .it tli" 

 expense ot' money value of early tomatots under any of tlie <'oiiditioiis of the experi 

 nieiit, ami that tin- best results were secured from the iisi- of small i|u:intities of 

 nitrate of soda alom*. Tliis. therefore, furtlieremphasi/es the conclusion that, proji- 

 erly used, nitrate of soda is a ]irotiUible fertilizer tor tomatoes. 



In ^Ir. ITonsel's e\]ieriinent the soil selected was jioor, and wliile imt 

 lieavy. was compact in tcxtm c with a tench'iicy to puddle alter working, 

 and proved nnra\oial»le lor the growth ot" early tomatoes. I'ractically 

 the tirst ])n'king was on .Inly '-"_' and tlie fViiil ripened \ciy sluwly n|) 

 to Atignst 18. 



While the yields on plats treated with nitrate of soda alone are somewhat larger 

 than where nothing w.is used, the increase is too small to be taken into considerjj- 

 tion. Using the yield lui ])lat 1 as n-presenting the unuianured lanti, minerals 

 increased the yield nn)re than l.")0 per tvui, while nitrate of soda and miueials 

 together incre.ised it on an average of 17!l ])er cent. 



The yield and value of early tomatoes <ui the nitratcil plats were also pioportiiui- 

 .■itely greater, i. e. there was a greater increased maturity than on the jdats treated 

 with minerals alone. • • • 



Nitrate of soda alone on the average was not protitabb-. merely paying f<M tin 

 nitrate used; minerals iucrcas.d the net \aluc per aire by .f^S.OtJ; nitrate with 



