The total yield data for the different crops for each year and for both 

 years together are summarized in Table 11. The totals for both years are 

 shown graphically in Figure 1 in the order of size of yields for ready com- 

 parison. 



Discussion of Field Plot Results 



The zinnia harvest for the first year shows the manure plots to be the 

 heaviest producers of flowers. The following year, the best yield was obtained 

 with the old softwood bark, closely followed by manure and old hardwood. 

 It should be noted, however, that all of the bark mixtures were ahead of 

 the control in total production in 1952. 



The bachelor button harvest for the first year showed the manure plots 

 superior to all others. In the second year the manure was still the best 

 medium, but the old softwood and hardwood bark mixtures were improved 

 over 1951. There was better production the second year in the new bark 

 plots when this material was plowed under than in the first year when it 

 was used as a surface mulch. 



The bark plots were probably starting to show some of the residual 

 effects of the organic matter in the soil as reflected in the higher flower 

 production in 1952 than in 1951. The new bark, when used as a mulch or 

 plowed under, produced higher yields than the control. The high yields 

 from the manure plots in both years shows that this is a satisfactory treat- 

 ment for bachelor button production. 



The bean harvest data show that the manure-treated plots yielded more 

 than any other treatment in 1951. Statistical analysis could not be applied 

 to the bean crop results because of the heavy deer damage. The results for 

 1952 compared to 1951, show that, as with the zinnias, the increase in yield 

 in the old softwood bark plots was equal to that of the manure plots. 



The Baby Blue squash yield in 1951 showed the manure plots again ahead 

 of the other plots by a significant amount. The new bark plot yields indi- 

 cate greater benefit from these when used as a mulch than when plowed 

 under. In 1951 the manure plot yield was the only one significantly greater 

 than controls at the 5 percent level. For 1952, when the yields for deer 

 damaged plots are omitted, as presented here, the yields from the old soft- 

 wood bark were outstandingly high. The others were close to the control. 



With the potato crop in 1951, the yields for manure, old hardwood, and 

 old softwood treatments were significantly greater than the controls at 

 the 5 percent level. In 1952, the manure plot yield was the only one sig- 

 nificantly greater. 



In general the total yield data for all five crops, as shown in Figure 1. 

 present two outstanding features. First, it is very obvious that the best yield 

 for all crops was obtained with manure. This would be expected, for manure 

 not only improves the physical qualities of soil, but also adds a consider- 

 able amount of plant nutrients beyond those supplied by the regular fer- 

 tilizer treatments. It is well recognized that bark would add scarcely any 

 of these elements. The other noteworthy feature is that all four of the bark 

 treatments gave greater total yields than the control with all crops except 

 the potato. This indicates that bark has some potentialities as a soil improver. 



14 



