1895.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 83. 313 



of soda only at this time) was tlien thoroughly mixed with 

 six and one-half pounds of the soil and added ; this addition 

 increased the depth nine centimeters. Two pounds of the 

 mixed soil (three centimeters) were next put in, and finally 

 the oats (one gram of seed per pot) were scattered in and 

 covered with one-half pound of the soil. Twelve and one- 

 half pounds of soil were therefore added to each pot, and 

 filled it to within one centimeter of the top. After each 

 addition of soil the pot was somewhat shaken, hut the soil 

 was not at all pressed in. The filling and planting were 

 completed on April 25. 



General Care of the Experiment. 



The pots were set into a wagon running on an iron track. 

 The floor of the wagon was surrounded with sides six inches 

 deep. The space between the pots was filled with sawdust, 

 which was kept moist, in order to keep the soil in the pots 

 as cool as possible during the hot summer weather. The 

 pots were carefully watched and kept sufficiently watered. 

 A portion of this water was supplied from beneath, and the 

 remainder was added to the surface with a sprinkling pot. 

 Sometimes it became necessary to water twice daily. The 

 pots were kept in the open whenever the weather permitted. 

 During wet or windy weather, and at night, they were run 

 under cover. 



Notes. 



The oats appeared April 30. When they were about two 

 inches high, twelve plants were removed from each pot, as 

 they appeared rather thick. 



Appearance June 1. 



Pots 1, 2, 3. Oats were eleven to thirteen inches high. 

 They began to appear light green, up to yellow, and 

 spindly. 



Pots 4, 5, 6. Oats were but very little better in appear- 

 ance than those in pots 1, 2 and 3. 



Pots 7, 8, 9. Plants were dark green, stocky, and eleven 

 to thirteen inches high. 



