1912.1 



PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 31. 



63 



regular greenhouse soils shown in section II., the claj ranging 

 from 3.86 per cent, to 12.26 per cent. The plants were set 

 out in October and removed the following June. Besides the 

 above treatment all of the beds were freely supplied every week 

 or two with liquid cow manure. The steam pipes were painted 

 with sulphur and oil, and there was little or no mildew or black 

 spot. The plants were quite free from diseases caused by 

 pathogenic organisms, although much variation occurred in the 

 vigor and growth of the plants in the different soils, as was 

 anticipated from the dissimilar conditions. In most cases they 

 were not what would be called vigorous. The following table 

 gives the height of the plants at two different periods in their 

 growth; viz., at March 17 and June 19. 



Table 2. — Showing the Average Height in Inches of Rose Pla7its grown in 

 Different Soils, in Beds A to E, Section I. 



The average height of plants in section L, beds A to E, which 

 contained a variety of new soils, was 36 inches for March 17, 

 and 29 inches for corresponding plants in section II., beds 

 A to E. At the second period of measurement, June 19, the 

 average height of the plants in beds A to E, section L, was 59 

 inches, while that for beds A to E, section II. was only 34 

 inches, showing that the new soils produced plants of greater 

 average height than the old greenhouse soil. If we take the 

 averages of the final measurements made on June 19 of the 

 plants grown in new soils, that is, in beds A to E, section L, 

 we find that the highest average growth in height is shown by 

 soil J^o. 67, or in bed D. (See Table 2.) Soil Ts^o. 67 con- 

 tained nearly 4 per cent, of clay and considerable fine sand 

 and silt, and constituted one of the best soils for roses in the 

 house. Soil 'No. 69, bed B, produced the next highest average 

 of plants, but they were abnormal, developing small leaves and 



