HORTICULTURE. 



1049 



lizers. The plants of the first crop were measured about a month after 

 being set in the bed and were harvested and weighed twelve weeks 

 after being set. Those of the second crop were measured four weeks 

 and weighed ten weeks after being set in the bed. In the second crop 

 no attempt was made to grow large heads, the plants being set very 

 close together. The results are given in tables and illustrated by 

 diagrams and figures from photographs. The following table gives 

 the average height and weight of plants grown with the different 

 fertilizers : 



Effect of large quantities of different fertilizers on forcing-house lettuce. 



Kind of fertilizer. 



None 



Muriate of potash 



Muriate of potash and nitrate of soda 



Muriate of potaab and dissolved boneblack 



Muriate of potash, nitrate- of soda, and dissolved boneblack 



Average height of 



plants. 



First 

 crop. 



Second 



crop. 



Incites. 

 1!.64 



2. 26 

 2.30 



3. 35 

 3.34 



Inches. 



2.05 

 1.92 

 1.61 



::. 82 

 2.95 



Average weight of 

 plants. 



First 

 crop. 



G id ms. 

 22.66 

 19. 8: j . 

 11.05 

 7u. 60 

 82.29 



Second 

 crop. 



Grams. 

 13. Oi) 

 16.42 

 9. 1 1 

 30.89 

 44 71 



The author gives the following summary of the experiment: 



"The application in large quantities of muriate of potash to a soil having a mod- 

 erate amonnt of phosphoric acid caused a large decrease in yield in the first crop 

 and without additional fertilizers an increase in the second. The addition of hoth 

 muriate of potash and nitrate of soda in excessive amounts caused a very large 

 decrease in the first crop, with a less marked one in the second. Dissolved bone- 

 black and muriate of potash when applied in excessive amounts gave a very marked 

 increase in the first crop, with a considerably less marked one in the second. The 

 application of all three fertilizers in excessive amounts gave a very large increase in 

 the first crop, with almost as large a one in the second. The dissolved boneblack 

 and muriate of potash gave the plant the quickest start, as in each crop the plants 

 in that section were considerably larger than in the others. Phosphoric acid seems 

 to be an essential factor in the growth of lettuce." 



To discover whether the percentages of moisture and ash in the 

 plants had any relation to the weight of the plants or to the fertilizers 

 used, determinations were made of the moisture and ash of mature 

 plants from the first crop. The results of the determinations are given 

 in the following table: 



Relation of fertilizers and yield to percentages of ash and moisture content of lettuce, 



Kind of fertilizer. 



A verage 

 weight of 



plants. 



iloisture. Ash. 



None 



Muriate of potash 



Muriate of potash and nitrate of soda 



Muriate of potash and dissolved boneblack 



Muriate of potash, nitrate of soda, and dissolved boneblack 



Grams, 

 22. 66 



19.83 

 11.05 



70.60 

 82.29 



Per cent. 

 96.22 

 96.35 

 95.34 

 97.63 

 98.18 



Per cent. 

 21.72 

 23.86 

 22.54 

 24.19 

 24.37 



Two tests were made to determine the effect of forcing lettuce in 

 pots. In the first test Grand Eapids and White Seeded Tennisball 

 lettuce were grown. Two weeks after the seed was sown the young 



