HORTICULTURE. 



403 



witli ])hosplu)ric acid in the form of dissolved bone black and potash as 

 iimiiate at the rate of 8,1 and 20.3 gni., respe(;tively, i)er plat, and with 

 nitiogen as nitrate of soda at the varying rates of 10.0, 18.2, 25.4, and 

 32.7 gm. 



Two ])laiits of eacli of the varieties Iguotum, Acme, and Dwarf 

 Chain[)ion were planted in e.ach of these 5 plats abont Jannary 1, at 

 which time, they were somewhat "leggy," but develoi)ed into fairly 

 normal, thrifty specimens. They were trained npon the "single-stem" 

 system, and the flowers were artificially pollinated. By January 8 the 

 plants on the unfertilized ])lat were lighter in color than the others, 

 and this diflerence increased through the season. The first fruits were 

 harvested February 27. An accurate record of each plant was kept, 

 with the weight and measure of each tomato produced and notes 

 regarding form, color, etc. 



Fruits taken from the plants when bearing freely, the \ines and 

 leaves at the close of the experiment, and trimmings removed during 

 the growing season were all analyzed for fertilizer ingredients; but the 

 roots could not be readily separated from the ashes and peat, so they 

 were not considered. 



Tables are given showing for each plat the fertilizers aj)i)lied, yield 

 of each variet\^, average number and Aveight of fruits i)er plant, num- 

 ber of double fruits, number and percentage of perfect-shaped fruits, 

 and average yield per square foot of bench area; the composition of 

 vines, leaves, and fruits; and the (piantities of fertilizer ingredients 

 taken from each plat in fruit and vines. The data are discussed from 

 both the chemical and horticultural standpoints. 



A rough comparison is made between the plants grown on the artifi- 

 cial soil and others grown on natural soil in the same forcing house, 

 but under slightly difierent conditions. It is thought that the artifi- 

 cial soil contained very little nitrogen available to the tomatoes, as the 

 G [)lants grown on the plat without fertilizer contained only half a 

 gram of nitrogen, part of which came from the young plants and the 

 soil adhering to their roots when transplanted. The authors also 

 believe that the <j[uantities of phosjihoric acid and potash apjdied were 

 not sufiicient for a maximum crop, but that the plants were able to 

 obtain some i)hosphoric acid and considerable potash from the artifi- 

 cial soil. The following table shows the amount of these substances 

 a]>i)lied in the fertilizer and taken from each i)lat in the crop: 



Phosphoric acid aud potash applied in fertilizer and remorcd hi/ tomato crop on artificial 



f<0il. 



