36 JLA.SSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



experimenting with electricity directly applied to the soil. This 

 method promises to be of still greater benefit. He said if any 

 doubted the stimulating effect of electricity on the growing of crops 

 under glass he would be glad to have them see two of his lettuce 

 houses, one of which is arranged with electrical apj)liances and 

 the other without them. The difference in the result is very 

 marked in favor of the electrically treated crop. 



He was still in the experimental stage of this subject and he hoped 

 in the course of a year to report the conclusions reached in more 

 detail. 



Referring to the matter of the sterilization of the soil he said 

 that after the experience of eight years he had found it most suc- 

 cessful and satisfactory; in fact it was the best thing he ever did 

 in the greenhouse line and the most profitable. Electricity and 

 sterilization were two entirely different things and one would not 

 do the work of the other. 



Mrs. E. M. Gill remarked that forty years ago she knew of a 

 woman who made a practice of putting earth in an oven before 

 potting her plants. 



In answer to another question J\Ir. Rawson said that the trouble 

 with most farms was the lack of proper treatment. The soil was 

 not worked enough and he advised one plowing in the fall fol- 

 lowed by two more in the spring. The soil should be thoroughly 

 worked over to produce good crops. 



In reply to further inquiries he stated that in sandy soil manure 

 would last only a single year; that the cause of lettuce not heading 

 up was too much heat and it should be planted in the coolest part 

 of the garden, even if a little shaded; that tomatoes were not 

 productive enough for a profitable greenhouse crop; and that 

 manure should not be put in the ground in the fall, except for a 

 crop of rhubard. 



He stated also that in growing cucumbers in the greenhouse 

 bees were necessary for fertilizing the blossoms and that he bought 

 regularly fifty swarms a season. 



There was as yet a limited sale for endive and some other foreign 

 vegetables but they will be grown more extensively in the future. 



A vote of thanks was tendered Mr. Rawson for his exceedingly 

 interesting contributions to the meeting. 



