EXPERIMENT IN GARDENING 239 



ing, or summer feeding, or cutting. But whatever the object 

 is, the one essential point is to treat all the plants similarly, 

 except only in regard to the object of the test. Unless 

 care is taken to do this, the value of the experiment would 

 be greatly reduced, and the results even misleading. 



Careful note-taking is of great value, even if it is not 

 essential. It is a good plan to leave a few pages in your 

 Garden Diary for particulars of experiments. On the left- 

 hand page record the results obtained on the plot not 

 treated, or the plot treated with ordinary material, the effect 

 of which is known ; and on the right-hand page record the 

 results obtained on the plot treated with new material, the 

 effects of which are not known. In the case of trying two 

 or more new materials the same method can be used, 

 putting each on a separate page. This method I have 

 found by trial is a very good one. Comparisons are easy 

 and all the particulars are kept separate. 



In the case of small experiments it is not necessary to 

 take down many particulars. The date when the experi- 

 ment was started, the amount of material given per square 

 yard, the plants used, the date on which the first results were 

 obtained, and what the results were, are usually sufficient. 

 But in bigger work the following points should be noted : 



(1) The kind of soil in the plots. 



(2) The kind of manure used and its quantity per square 



yard. 



(3) Date the manure was dug in. 



(4) Weather conditions for the week preceding the date 



of starting Experiment. 



(5) Date of starting Experiment (such as giving 



dressing of soil fumigant or artificial manure, and 

 amount per square yard) . 



(6) Weather conditions for at least 14 days after 



dressing. 



(7) Date of planting the plots. 



(8) Names of the plants used. 



(9) Particulars as to treatment after planting (i.e 



hoeing, watering, etc., etc., with dates). 



