Effects of Large Applications of Commercial Fer- 

 tilizers on Carnations 



By Fred Weaver Muncie 



In the investigation of the use of commercial fertihzers in growing 

 carnations by the lUinois Agricultural Experiment Station, it has been 

 found that the lack of appreciation by florists of the relatively high plant 

 food concentrations and often high solubilities of commercial fertilizers, 

 as compared with manure, has often led to a complete loss of a crop of 

 flowers in an eff"ort to produce an extraordinarily large one. On this 

 account, it was considered desirable to study the causes and effects of 

 overfeeding with the more ordinarily used commercial fertilizers. 



The fertilizers chosen for the experiment were dried blood, sodium 

 nitrate and ammonium sulfate, acid phosphate and disodium phosphate, 

 and potassium sulfate. For comparison, sodium chloride and sodium 

 sulfate also were used on some sections. Experimental work upon the 

 subject was carried out during the years 19 12-15. 



Carnations are propagated by means of cuttings, and from these it was 

 found impossible to secure a normal growth in either sand or water cultures. 

 Hence, the experimental work was based upon the study of plants grown 

 in soil carefully selected with the view to securing uniformity throughout 

 the benches, watered to give as nearly as possible the same moisture 

 content, and subjected very nearly to identical conditions of heat, ventila- 

 tion, and illumination. For details regarding the type of soil, its prepara- 

 tion, arrangement of sections, etc., the reader is referred to Bull. 176 

 of the Illinois Agricultiu-al Experiment Station. 



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