290 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 171. 



Comparative Effects of Spring and Summer Top-dressing on Asparagus 

 Roots at End of Cutting Season. 



Plot and Root. 



31 (I.). . 

 31 (II.), . 

 31 (III.), 

 31 (IV.), . 

 Average, 



32 (I.), . 

 32 (II.), . 

 32 (III.), 

 32 (IV.), . 

 Average, 



34 (I.), . 

 34(11.), . 

 34 (III.), 

 34 (IV.), . 

 Average, 



35 (I.), . 

 35 (II.), . 

 35 (III.), 

 35 (IV.), . 

 Average, 



Fresh 

 Weight 

 (Grams). 



600 

 2,744 

 1,995 

 1,970 



1,825 



1,400 

 2,060 

 3,830 

 3,375 



2,666 



2,750 

 3,150 

 3,400 

 1,805 



2,776 



2,945 



860 



3,180 



2,355 



2,335 



Per Cent. 



Dry 



Matter. 



17.15 

 21.37 

 18.52 

 19.77 



19.20 



16.04 

 15.87 

 14.43 

 19.97 



16.58 



17.88 

 19.81 

 20.58 

 15.59 



18.46 



18.88 

 23.14 

 21.25 

 17.67 



20.24 



Total 

 Nitrogen. 



1.37 



1,78 

 2.24 

 1.86 



1.81 



1.94 

 2.06 

 2.47 

 1.79 



2.06 



1.84 

 1.80 

 2.22 

 2.33 



2.06 



2.12 

 2.22 

 2.18 

 2.10 



2.15 



Total 

 Sugar. 



22.40 

 34.54 

 19.92 

 26.17 



25.76 



19.60 

 7.68 

 7.40 



18.53 



13.30 



26.43 

 32.67 

 36.14 

 16.13 



27.84 



29.87 

 31.17 

 26.70 

 15.27 



25.90 



Sugar fluctuated widely in individual roots, and the value of the aver- 

 ages is somewhat doubtful. 



The weights of roots from the same plot vary as widely as the weights 

 from different plots, so that no conclusions can be drawn from the size of 

 roots. 



The general effect of varying the season of top-dressing with nitrate of 

 soda was very small and inconclusive. 



Reserve Material required to produce a Crop of Young Stalks. 

 An attempt is here made to determine the amount of reserve material 

 drawn from the roots during the spring cutting season. For this purpose 

 use is made of the average composition of fall roots, spring stalks and 

 summer roots, and the average weights obtained from the four plots 



