38 



EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



aloiH', l)nt in no case was the use of either alone equal to the yields obtained from 

 the two conibined. 



Fertilizers for garden crops {Amer. Gard., 2)2 {1901), No. 365, JH)- 858, 859). — 

 The advantages of the proper use of commercial fertilizers with certain kinds of 

 vegetables are given. The work is based on the report of Truffaut and Denaiffe 

 (E. S. R., 12, p. 851) and that reported by the New Jersey Experiment Station in 

 using large amounts of commercial fertilizers on soils already very rich in plant foods 

 (E. S. R., 11, p. 444). 



The evolution of vegetable culture, W. W. Rawson {Gardenimj, 10 {1901), No. 

 233, pp. 26.5-267). — A paper on this subject read l)y the author before the Massachu- 

 setts Horticultural Society. The vegetables mentioneil include asparagus, beans, 

 beets, cabbage, celery, corn, cucumbers, lettuce, onions, peas, radish, rhubarb, 

 squash, and tomatoes. 



Soils and fertilizers for greenhouse crops, H. J. Patterson and T. II. White 

 {Maryland Sta. Bid. 81, pp. 77-96, pis. 5). — Experiments are reported on the prepara- 

 tion of greenhouse soils with sand and clay loam, mixed with various stable manures, 

 and with crimson clover; the use of stable manure and street sweepings in the green- 

 house; transplanting lettuce; watering chrysanthemums with fertilizers in solution; 

 and the use of commercial fertilizers in lettuce culture. 



In the preparation of soils for lettuce no difference in the results was noticed, 

 whether the stable manure used was mixed with the soil in a bed 6 in. deep or placed 

 in a layer 2 in. deep at the bottom of the bed and covered over with 4 in. of soil, the 

 amount of manure used l)eing the same in l)oth cases. Green crimson clover was suc- 

 cessfully substituted for sod in the preparation of composts for use in the greenhouse. 

 The use of well-rotted stable manure hastened the earliness of a crop of lettuce about 

 10 days, as compared with unrotted manure, but the total yield of lettuce was the 

 same in both cases. Hog manure was most useful on light soils. A compost made 

 with cow manure proved a more efficient soil for lettuce production than a like com- 

 post made with horse manure. 



Street sweepings has been found very efficient and useful as a fertilizer for use in 

 the greenhouse, l)oth on account of its manurial value and its mechanical effects. A 

 mulch of street sweepings 1 to 2 in. deep on lettuce prevented "damping off" and 

 kept the under leaves of the plants in a nicer condition than when they lay on the 

 soil. The use of two-thirds sweepings and one-third sand has given very satisfactory 

 results as a soil for a number of potted plants. The sweepings made an excellent 

 plunging medium for all classes of stock in the house and for rubber plants, and were 

 valuable as a substitute for leaf mold and spent hops. It is believed that they may 

 also be used in place of cocoa fiber, which is largely used by florists in Europe. The 

 fertilizing value of fresh and of well-rotted street sweejiings is given in the table below 

 and compared with some other materials used in greenhouse soils. 



C'o)nparative analyses of street siveep'mys and oilier fertUizer materials. 



Fertilizer materials. 



Street sweepings (fresh) 



Street sweepings (well rotted) 



Horse manure ( fresh ) 



Cow manure ( fresh )a 



Spent liops 



Oak leaves 



Jadoo fiber b 



Per cent. 

 25.56 



48.69 

 75.00 



Mineral 

 matter. 



Per cent. 

 57.59 

 36.40 



5.15 



Nitro- 

 gen. 



Per cent. 



0.51 



.53 



.43 



.57 



1.08 



1.00 



.76 



Potash. 



Per cent. 

 0.06 

 .42 

 .44 

 .20 

 .40 

 .35 

 .21 



Phos- 

 phoric 

 acid. 



Per cent. 

 0.27 

 .32 

 .29 

 .31 

 .31 

 .20 

 .56 



"Samples from steers fed in concreted pits where all the liquid excrements were absorbed by the 

 bedding. 

 bPeat moss soaked in a solution of fertilizing materials. 



