SOIL PREPARATION 79 



were added by the system used at the Ohio station by 

 Green and his associates. The experiments, which are of 

 such general interest and value, are reported as follows 

 in Circular 69 : 



"Three years ago the Ohio station began an experiment to see 

 what effect the use of strawy manure would have on the soil when 

 used as a mulch during that part of the summer when crops are 

 not growing in the greenhouses. This manure was applied as soon 

 as the tomato and cucumber vines were removed from the houses, 

 or about the first of August. It was put on to a depth of five or six 

 inches and spread evenly over the entire surface of the beds. As 

 soon as it was on, water was applied in the form of a spray until 

 the manure and soil were thoroughly wet. 



"The object of this wetting was first to leach the fertility of the 

 manure into the soil and second to wet the soil sufficiently so that 

 with the strawy mulch it would remain moist for several days. The 

 operation of watering was repeated as often, as needed; two or 

 three times a week in bright weather. 



"When we started to plant the lettuce, about the middle of Sep- 

 tember, the coarse part of the manure was removed from the beds 

 and carried outside. The finer portion of the manure was worked 

 into the soil at the time of spading. 



"It was noticeable that the soil which had been treated with the 

 mulch was in excellent condition when it was worked up for the 

 first crop. There were no lumps, as there often are in the soil 

 which has been allowed to bake in the sun for weeks at a time. 

 It was also darker in color than unmulched soil. The lettuce plants 

 which were planted in this soil started off nicely and grew rapidly 

 and satisfactorily in every respect. No further application of 

 manure or fertilizer of any kind was made for the second or third 

 crops of lettuce. The growth of these crops was very satisfactory, 

 as was that of the first crop. Liquid manure was applied to the 

 tomato plants when the fruit began to ripen. This fertility might 

 have been applied in the form of manure as a mulch, and probably 

 it is best applied in that way rather than in the liquid form. 



"This method of treating the soil during the summer gave such 

 favorable results the first season it was tried that the station in- 

 duced several practical greenhouse men to try it last season. One 

 firm at Toledo, Ohio, began the use of the summer mulch the same 

 season the station began it, neither party knowing that the other 



