19U5.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 88. 127 



maintain the soil in sufficient!}^ higli fertility to produce satis- 

 factoiy growth on either of tlie combinations of fertilizers 

 employed. During the past season, therefore, we have used 

 nitrate of soda at the rate of 200 pounds per acre, in connec- 

 tion with the customary amounts of bone meal and potash, 

 on the plots occupied by these crops. 



1. lihubar-b {Sulfate v. Muriate of Potash). 

 The rhubarb grown in this experiment is of the Monarch 

 variety. The growth has been vigorous and healthy. The 

 product of this year is shown in the following table : — 



Muriate v. High-grade Sulfate of Potash {Rhubarb) . — Yields per Aere 



(Pou7ids) . 



The 3'ield of stalks on the two plots is substantially equal, 

 but the weight of the leaves accompanying the stalks pro- 

 duced on the sulfate of potash is materially greater than on 

 the other potash salt. Whether this fact has any special 

 significance is not at present known ; but it is at least sug- 

 gestive that on Field C, where, under conditions otherwise 

 differing quite widely from those In Field B, the muriate is 

 compared with the sulfate, a similar difference in Aveight of 

 leaves as compared with stalks is found. It is, of course, 

 evident that the results of this year do not throw any im- 

 portant light upon the question as to whether there is any 

 important practical difference in the two potash salts for this 

 crop. 



2. Cabbages (Sulfate v. Muriate of Potash). 



The variety of cabbages grown this year Avas Fottler's 

 Brunswick Drumhead. The seed was planted in hills two 

 feet apart and in rows three and one-half feet apart, on June 

 30. The plants were thinned first to two in a hill, and later, on 

 August 16, to one. The summer and the autumn, especially 

 the latter, averaged much below the normal temperature, and 

 the cabbages were by no means matured on the approach of 

 weather which compelled their harvesting. With a normal 



