62 VEGETABLE FORCING 



been especially beneficial to the physical conditioruof the 

 soil." As a whole, plot 5, which received no cut hay or 

 straw but the same chemicals as No. 3, did not produce as 

 high yields as the other plots. This experiment seems 

 to indicate that any kind of organic matter of proper tex- 

 ture improves the physical properties of greenhouse soils, 

 but growers should not conclude that it would be a safe 

 practice to abandon the use of stable manure and sub- 

 stitute chemicals and cut hay or cut straw, although it is 

 possible that this could actually be done. The straw was 

 used at the rate of about 10 tons to the acre. 



Horse manure. Of the various stable manures, horse 

 manure is used the most extensively in the forcing of 

 vegetables. It is sometimes purchased at the livery 

 stables in the large cities for 50 cents a two-horse load. A 

 dollar a ton is a common price in the smaller towns and 

 cities. Horse manure is drier and looser in texture than 

 cow manure, and it is also quicker in action and more 

 convenient to fork, especially when used as a mulch for 

 tomatoes and cucumbers. Fresh horse manure contains 

 an average of 0.59 per cent of nitrogen, 0.26 per cent of 

 phosphoric acid and 0.48 per cent of potash. See page 423. 

 for the value of horse manure from mushroom beds. 



Cow manure is valued by some greenhouse vegetable 

 growers. It is slow in action, and the fresh manure may 

 be applied nearer the time of planting than is desirable 

 with fresh horse manure. Cattle manure of fine texture 

 may be bought from city stockyards. Sometimes it is 

 dried and pulverized, and then shipped in bags. This 

 special product is convenient to use, but the high cost 

 prohibits its use in large commercial establishments. 

 Fresh cow manure contains about 0.42 per cent of 

 nitrogen, 0.29 per cent of phosphoric acid and 0.44 per 

 cent of potash. 



Sheep manure has long been popular for use in flori- 

 culture, and it also finds some sale among greenhouse 



