the organic matter during two previous crops, plus a fallow period, was 

 probably largely responsible for this. There was a slight tendency for the 

 growth of plants in the 50 percent mixtures to be better than in the 10 

 percent mixtures. The fact that the plants of the two previous crops in the 

 50 percent mixtures had been poorest of those grown in any of the three 

 proportions of organic matter indicates that, even in this highest concen- 

 tration, decay was well advanced. 



Effect of Bark and Peat on Flower 

 Production by Ornamentals 



A snapdragon crop was grown in benches, followed later by a carnation 

 crop. Three standard greenhouse benches were prepared in the following 

 manner: 



Bench No. 3 — Regular greenhouse compost made up of manure, 



soil, sand, and plant waste. 

 Bench No. 4 — A mixture of peat (25 percent) and greenhouse 

 compost (75 percent) by volume. 



Bench No. 11 — As above, except that 25 percent old hardwood 

 bark was used in place of peat. 



All of the materials in each bench were thoroughly mixed and steam 

 sterilized. Tests showed sufficient nutrient present and pH levels satisfac- 

 tory in all benches (6.0 to 6.6). 



Snapdragon plants were set out in the benches on December 5, 1950. 

 Each bench contained three varieties as listed in Table 2. All plants had 

 been pinched because of their size when transplanted. No fertilizer was 

 applied at this time nor during the experiment. On February 19, 1951, 

 more than a year later, the first harvest was made. At this time and at 

 each cutting for the following two weeks, the greatest number of flowers 

 was harvested from the bench containing bark. In succeeding harvests the 

 number of flowers cut from each bench tended to become equal. The total 

 yields given in Table 2 show greatest production for the bark, next largest 



Table 2. Total Yields of Flower Harvest from Greenhouse Beds 



