Food for large amounts, a marked increase in the growth of the 



Pla^ plants was obtained. 



150 4. The muriate of potash proved somewhat superior to 



the sulphate, the increase in each case being but slight. 



5. But little difference seems to obtain in the efficiency 

 of different forms of available phosphoric acid. 



6. In each instance chemical fertilizers proved slightly 

 superior to stable manures. 



7. The application of liquid fertilizers from below by 

 the sub-watering method proved perfectly feasible and gave 

 satisfactory results. 



8. Nitrate of Soda gave quicker returns than did dried 

 bloody and seems best adapted to lettuce culture. 



9. The sub-watered plants made a better growth than 

 the surface watered ones. 



MASSACHUSETTS EXPERIMENT STATION. 



„ ... , Since i8q2 the Massachusetts Hatch Sta- 



Fertilizers for • 1 i j • • r 



„ , ^ tion has been conductmp; series or experi- 



Garden Crops. ^, -, • '^ 1 r -kt-. . 



ments to test the relative value of i\ itrate 



of Soda, sulphate of ammonia, and dried blood, as sources 



of Nitrogen for different garden crops; and, at the same 



time, to make a comparison of muriate with sulphate of 



potash, when used with each of the three Nitrogenous 



fertilizers for the same class of crops. Dissolved bone-black 



was applied equally to all plats from the first. These 



experiments were continued unvaried until 1897. Sulphate 



of potash in connection with Nitrate of Soda generally gave 



the best crop; in cases where it did not, it gave one but 



slightly inferior to the best except in the case of one crop, 



sweet corn, a plant which makes much of its growth in the 



latter part of the season. Nitrate of Soda in almost every 



instance proved the most valuable source of Nitrogen, whether 



used with muriate or sulphate of potash. Sulphate of 



ammonia and muriate of potash when used together gave 



the poorest yield in every instance. 



Up to 1897, as has been already stated, only chemical 



fertilizers were used, but in 1898 a change was made in the 



plan of the experiment. In view of the fact that market 



gardeners, in whose interest chiefly these experiments were 



