FERTILIZERS WITH TOMATOES. 55 



for a maximum tomato crop. To these plots were added 

 known quantities of nitrogen in form of nitrate of soda." 



Five plots (numbered from 4 to 8) were set aside in 

 the center bed of a forcing-house, each plot containing 

 about 14 square feet. The benches were 9 inches deep, 

 and the artificial soils were filled in to the depth of 8 

 inches. " The soil for each plot was separately mixed as 

 follows : 300 pounds of anthracite coal ashes, sifted to 

 pass a wire screen with four meshes to the inch, were 

 spread on a cement floor, and 9 pounds of peat moss, 

 such as is sold in the cities for stable bedding, screened 

 like the ashes, were scattered over them. To these were 

 added three and one-half ounces of precipitated carbon- 

 ate of lime, to neutralize a slight acidity of the peat and 

 give to the whole a mild alkaline reaction. These ma- 

 terials were shoveled over twice carefully and then spread 

 as before. 



"The fertilizers designed for the plot [nitrate of soda, 

 dissolved bone black, and muriate of potash] were 

 sprinkled over this mixture and the whole was carefully 

 shoveled over twice again to secure as perfect a mixture 

 as possible of fertilizers and soil, and then carried in a 

 hand-barrow to the designated plot in the forcing-house. 



" The north bench in the same house was filled with a 

 rich soil prepared by composting good thick turf with one- 

 third its bulk of stable manure. Plants were set in this 

 bench mainly to make a rough comparison between crops 

 grown on the two radically different soils. The exposure 

 of the two benches was slightly different, that of the north 

 bench being, perhaps, somewhat less favorable as regards 

 light. The plants set in the north bench were also much 

 closer together. 



"Three varieties of tomatoes were used: Ignotum, 

 Acme, and Dwarf Champion, two plants of each variety 

 being set in each plot, and all receiving the same treat- 

 ment." 



The tabular results of these experiments are as follows : 



