1040 EXPERIMENT STATION RECORD. 



10 and August 10 was 7 cts. per pound, thus giving a money value of 

 16.8 cts. per square foot. The vines continued l)earing until August 

 30. At this date the average yield per j^lant Mas 5 lbs. 3^ oz. per 

 square foot, and the selling price per pound brought the money value 

 up to 20 cts. per square foot. 



Peppers were not fruited out of doors. Under glass the large 

 squash pepper yielded at the rate of 1()<H l''*!- per square rod, and 

 Ruby King at the rate of 122 lbs. per square rod. 



Eggplants gave an average return of about 18 cts. per square foot. 

 Early Long Purple gave the quickest returns and was very productive. 

 New York Improved stood next in value. 



Celery was easily grown, but there was considerable difficulty in 

 blanching without rotting. The Golden Self F>lanching was of most 

 value for indoor culture. 



Muskmelons were started in pots and handled similar to cucumbers. 

 It required about 3 months from the time the plants were transplanted 

 into the beds until the fruit matured. Varieties successfully grown 

 were Rose Gem, Netted Gem, and true Jenny Lind. 



From the results of the author's experiments with these ditferent 

 vegetables, it is believed that owners of greenhouses can ill aii'ord to 

 allow the house to remain idle throughout the summer. This is be- 

 lieved to have special application to the New England States and those 

 in temperate sections. 



The growing of lettuce with chemical fertilizers, W. Stuakt 

 {Indiana Sfa. Bui. SJ^., jjjp. 115-lJi2^ cliart-^ o). — Previous experiments 

 (E. S. R., 11, p. 342) are Reviewed and details given of further work 

 to determine the comparative efficiency of chemical fertilizers and 

 stable manure, l■elati^•o availability of licjuid chemical manures when 

 applied to the surface of the soil and from Ijclow, and a comparison of 

 surface r. su))watering for lettuce. The tests were made in pots, and 

 the results are tabulated and discussed. The author smnmarizes the 

 results of the present and earlier tests as follows: 



"In order to nUidy the action of the three esscMitial elt'incnts of jilaiit food — nitro- 

 gen, phosphorus, and potassmm — a soil must 1)e used that is fairly deficient in plant 

 food. Potash when used in any considerable amount, either alone or in connection 

 Avith nitrate of soda, produced conditions unsuitable to plant growth. When phos- 

 phori(; acid was used alone or in connection with nitrate of soda or muriate of potash, 

 even in large amounts, a marked increase in the growth of the j)lants Avas obtained. 

 The muriate of potash proved somewhat superior to the sulphate, the increase in each 

 case being but slight. But little difference seems to obtain in the efficiency of dif- 

 ferent forms of available phosphoric acid. In each instance chemical fertilizers 

 proved slightly superior to stable manures. The application of liquid fertilizers from 

 below by the subwatering method proved perfectly feasible and gave satisfactory 

 results. Nitrate of soda gave quicker returns than did dried blood, and seems best 

 adapted to lettuce culture. The sub\vateri>(l ])lants made abetter growth than the 

 surface- watered ones." 



