HORTICULTURE. 135 



.sU'i-ili/A'd l»y lK'atin<r for 7^^ mimitt'S in sti'Uiii, l)y lln' saiiic iiK-tlnMl iidtcil in an eurlier 

 iml)lifation (E. 8. R., 10, ]). 2(55). The I'oal asheH usimI in 1S9S-1);» witi- mixed with 

 8 jHT cent of peat moss, and botli screened through a 4-in. mesh, ('oniniercial fer- 

 tilizers were added to the plats made up of the coal ashes and peat moss. The same 

 actual amount of nitrogen was given each plat, but I plat received it in the form of 

 nitrate of soda, another in tlie form of cotton-seed meal, and the third in the form 

 of ground bone. Muriate of potash was added to all .S jdats alike, and dissolved bone 

 to the plats which had received nitrate of soda and cotton-seed meal. 



The results secured are tabulated, and are summarized as follows: "Tht' crops on 

 the '2 i)lats of sterilized compt)st were uniform in (lualityand much larger and ])etter 

 than any from the 3 plats tilled with coal aslies. Where nitrate was used the crop 

 was the smallest; where cotton-seed meal was used the cro]) was larger by nearly one- 

 quarter, and where bone was used the weight of cro]) was tw(j and a half times as 

 great as from the nitrate plat. ' ' 



The following season (1899-1900) similar soils were used and the effect of lime 

 studied. The best results were again obtained with sterilized compost. Of the 2 

 plats of unsterilized compost used, that to which lime had been added gave a greater 

 total weight of crop and l)etter heads than that on which no lime had been used. In 

 the case of ])lats of peat and coal ashes fertilized with bone nitrogen, the addition of 

 large amounts of lime (2,240 l])s. per acre) was of no benefit, a heavier yield and 

 better heads being produced upon the plat limed at the rate of 650 lbs. per acre. 



"In none of these plats was the lettuce of first-class marketable quality. The 

 heads were not as compact and firm as they should have been, and we are convinced 

 that the texture or mechanical condition, both of the compost and also of the ashea 

 and peat m(jss, makes it impossible to produce the best lettuce on them, however 

 skillful the fertilization of the soil or management of the house." 



Caniaiion.'i (pp. 301-306). — This experiment was planned primarily to test the 

 effe(tt of lime. C'cjal ashes were mixed with 5 per cent of peat moss, and Ijoth screened 

 to pass a j-in. mesh. Six plats of this material were used, and each plat was given 

 the same kind and quantity of connuercial fertilizers. Two plats then received in 

 addition 100 gm. each of unleached lime, two others 220 gm., and two others 340 gm. 

 each. Five other plats were filled with compost, to which no fertilizers were added. 

 Three, however, received 100, 220, and 340 gm., respectively, of lime. Daybreak, 

 Portia, and Flora Hill were the varieties used. Top-dressings of nitrate of soda were 

 added in some instances. The conclusions of the authors are as follows: 



"It is evident . . . that 100 gm. of slacked lime per plat gave better results than 

 a larger quantity when used with a soil of coal ashes and peat moss and fertilizer 

 chemicals, and that where larger quantities were used the numl)er of flowers was 

 considerably decreased. This was true, ]>otli where the fertilizer was all mixed with 

 the soil at time of setting the plants and also where doses of nitrogen w^ere subse- 

 quently applied. In the compost soil the greatest number of flowers was harvested, 

 from plat 182, which received the maximum quantity of lime. Portia yielded better 

 than Daybreak, averaging from 20 to 28 flowers per plant in the various plats. In 

 no case did Daybreak yield over 18 flow^ers per plant. 



"The chief differences noted from varying (juantities of lime were in the varying 

 nund)er of flowers per plant rather than in any marked difference in the average 

 size and weight of the flowers or in the length of stem. The stiffness of tlie stem 

 was not noticeably affected by the lime." 



Orchard notes, F. S. Eakle {Alnhama College Sta. Bui. 112, pp. 157-100). — These 

 notes cover the season of 1900, and are similar in character to those recorded for 

 previous years (E. S. R. 11, p. 1041). They are based on the behavior of the apples, 

 figs, kaki or Japanese persimmons, hybrid oranges, peaches, pears, and plums, grown 

 at the station during the season. 



