72 MANAGEMENT OF THE FORCING-HOUSE. 



SURFACE. UNDER-SURFACB. 



Center bed 40x8 ft. @ $12 Center bed 40x8 ft. @ $25 



per M $3 84 per M $8 oo 



2 Side benches 50x4 ft. @ 2 Side benches 50x4 ft. @ 



$12 per M 4 80 $25 per M 10 oo 



182 ft. Sideboards @ $20 . . 3 64 182 ft. Sideboards @ $20 . . 3 64 

 150 ft. Quarter round @ i ct. I 50 

 320 ft. Tile @ |i8 per M . . 5 76 

 White lead i 10 



Total $12 28 Total $30 oo 



"The difference between the first cost of the beds 

 in the two houses is, therefore, $17.72. Dividing this 

 amount by two, since the beds will certainly last two 

 years, we have |8.86 as the actual yearly expense of the 

 one house over the other. The fact of this small expendi- 

 ture in comparison with the great advantages derived 

 from it, establishes its economic importance and thorough 

 practicability. 



"Lead or iron pipe may be used in place of the tiles, 

 but are not as practicable when a quantity is to be used. 

 They are more expensive, and better adapted to smaller 

 areas. Lead pipe costs 6 cents per pound, the number of 

 pounds to the foot varying according to the quality. It 

 gives very satisfactory results, and can be used indefi- 

 nitely. The cost of iron pipe varies according to the 

 size. Although it is less expensive than the lead, it rusts 

 easily, and can not be relied upon after one or two sea- 

 sons' use. That used the past season, after having been 

 cleaned, is in fair condition for use this year." 



Experiments with lettuce and other plants. After 

 various preliminary tests at the Ohio Station, "three 

 houses, each 20 x 100 ft. , have been devoted almost wholly 

 to lettuce, nearly all of which has been sub-irrigated. A 

 middle section in each house has been reserved for sur- 

 face watering, and the end benches are divided, half 

 being watered by one method and half by the other. 

 Incidentally, this arrangement may be referred to as af- 

 fording an opportunity to note the behavior of plants in 



