406 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



described above (p. 402), some points are noted iu favor of artificial 

 soil of coal ashes and peat moss as a substitute for natural soil, but tlie 

 exjierieuce is considered too limited to aftbrd conclusive results. 



This experiment tended to show that with artificial soil the benches 

 can be filled at less cost, that i)lants are not so liable to attacks of root 

 insects or nematodes, tliat the croj) will mature earlier, and that the 

 benches do not decay as rapidly. 



Field experiments ^vith commercial fertilizers on garden crops, 

 C. A. GoESS]MAT\'N {Massachusetts Hatch Sta. Rpt. 1895, pp. 2!)9-o()7). — 

 A general resume is given of experiments along this line begun by the 

 State Station in 1891 and described in the Annual Reports of that 

 station for 1893 and 1894 (E. S. E., 6, p. 296: 7, p. 302). The crops 

 upon which different forms of nitrogen and potash were tested in 1895 

 were onions, sweet corn, beans, and tomatoes. Notes and tabulated 

 yields per plat are given for each crop, and summaries for crops raised 

 for several years in succession. 



The author draws the following conclusions from the summarized 

 data: 



"Sulphate of potash in counection with nitrate of soda has given in every case 

 but one (onions) the best results. 



''Nitrate of soda as nitrogen source has yielded in every case, without reference 

 to the form of potash, the best returns. 



"Suliihate of aiymonia as nitrogen source, in connection with muriate of jiotash 

 as potash source, has given the least satisfactory returns. 



"The influence of the difference in the general character of the weather, whether 

 normal or dry, during succeeding seasons on the yield of cro]»s has been greater than 

 that of the ditlerent fertilizers used u2)on different plats during the same season." 



The nitrogen and mineral matters in a peach crop, E. H. Jenkins 

 [Connecticut ^tatc 8ta. Bpt. 1895, pp. 15?, 158). — Tables are given showing 

 the nitrogen and ash in the air-dried flesh and stones of 2,000 gm. of 

 peaches, and the proximate constituents of the ash. The pulp of the 

 fruit contains the greater part of both nitrogen and mineral matters, 

 onlj" one-fourth of the nitrogen and one-tenth of the ash elements being 

 contained in the stones. 



From the data given it is estimated that the following amounts of 

 nitrogen and ash ingredients are removed by a peach crop of 390 baskets 

 per acre : 



Xitrotjen and ash ingredients removed per aere hij i)eaeh crop. 



Nitrogen 19. 7 



Potash 21.9 



Soda 1.2 



Lime 1. 



Magnesia 1.0 



Iron oxid 4 



Phosphoric acid 4. 2 



Siilphuric acid 1. 



Chlorin 4 



