Food for Plants. 



75 



Musk melons were transplanted from the hot house 

 on May 4th; 325 pounds Nitrate per acre was applied 

 on fifteen occasions, about 6 days apart, between May 

 10th and August 8th. The first ripe fruit was picked 

 July 19th, 88 days after planting seed and 76 days after 

 transplanting from hot house. The yield was at the rate 

 of 9,680 melons per acre, none of which sold for less than 

 5 cents, and many for 10 cents. The vines on the non- 

 nitrated plot gave but very small return and did imt give 

 any return for the labor spent on them. 



Onions. 



The soil was in bad condition, and was liberally limed. 

 Seeding was completed April 15th, and the plants were 

 rapidly breaking ground by the 28th. The tract was 

 divided into three plots; plot 1 received 675 pounds of 

 Nitrate of Soda in six applications at intervals of a week 



675 lbs. of Nitrate of 



Soda to the acre iu 



6 applications. 



375 lbs. of Nitrate of 



Soda to the acre in 



4 applications. 



No 

 Nitrate. 



or 10 days; plot 2 received 375 pounds in four applica- 

 tions ; plot 3 was not treated with Nitrate. The nitrated 

 plots seemed least affected by the exceptionally dry 

 weather, but the crop on all the plots was no doubt 

 reduced by the unfavorable conditions. The follomng 

 table gives the results by plots, computed to an acre 

 basis : 



Total yield 



Per cent, scullions 



