404 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



The 4 plats with regularly increased amounts of nitrogen show an 

 increasing yield of limit, of the average number of fruits per plant, and 

 of nitrogen, i)hosx)horic acid, and potash in the crop, as shown in fol- 

 lowing table: 



Fruit (jrowH and fertilizer con><lHiienfs in fruit and vines of tomatoes (jrown on artificial 

 8oil with varying amounts of nitrogen. 



In comparison of fruit grown on artificial and natural soil, the 

 authors consider only the 2 plats containing the larger amounts of nitro- 

 gen, as the others had by no means an adequate supply of nitrogen. It 

 is thought probable that those considered did not have a full supply of 

 any of the fertilizing ingredients, as they grew and fruited more rapidly 

 than those in natural soil, then suddenly stopped growth and bearing 

 and appeared dead, but upon cutting back and applying more fertili- 

 zers made a new and vigorous growth and IVuited again. The plants 

 in natural soil continued to bear until the following July, but the 

 authors think there is no profit in forcing-house tomatoes after April 15. 



The following table shows the average yield of fruit per plant and 

 per square foot of bench area for the plants on natural and artificial soil : 



Averagi yield of tomatoes on natural and artificial soil. 



Artificial soil to April 1 

 Niitural soil : 



To April 17 



To July 16 



Yield per 

 plant. 



Grams. 

 2, 087 



076 

 1,820 



^"'"^.f Weight 



of fruits „f f^,f; + „ 



per plant, r'"'^"'*^'- 



10.4 

 22.7 



Grains. 

 99.1 



01.7 



82.4 



Yield per 



square 



foot. 



Grams. 

 904 



847 

 1,583 



The authors draw the following conclusions : 



"(1) A forciiig-liouse toiuato crop yielding uboiit 2 lbs. of fruit for cacli sqnart' foot 

 of bi'Dch room takes in the vines and fruit, for every 100 S(|. ft. of bench space, not 

 less than ; 



Pounds. Ounces. 



Equivalent to nitrate of soda 2 5 



'' " dissolved bone black 13 



" " mnriate of potash 1 9 



"Of this from a fourth to a fifth only is in tlie vines. 



"(2) To enable the jilants to get these fertilizer elements as required, there should 

 be a large excess of them iu the soil, perhaps double the quantity given above. 



Grams. 



Nitrogen 168 



Phosphoric acid fiS 



Potash 362 



