SOIL, MAKURBS AKD WATEKlKG. 369 



by ten feet was planted, and, giving satisfactory results, 

 the work was extended the next season, when still better 

 results were obtained. The third year nothing was done 

 by the station, because of removal to Wooster, Wayne 

 county, but the work was carried on at the university in 

 Columbus, in the houses first used for the purpose, and 

 along the same lines, but on a larger scale, under the 

 management of Mr. Turner. The fourth season the 

 experiments were extended and the scope widened, 

 under favorable circumstances, in the four new houses 

 built by the station at "Wooster, Ohio. 



The experiments, although not fully completed 

 with all classes of plants which may be grown in the 

 soil on greenhouse benches, show that all species do 

 not respond in the same degree to the treatment, some 

 being but slightly benefited, while with others the 

 crop is often doubled. It is somewhat unexpected, 

 but no plants, not even roses, have been injured by 

 the treatment. 



Thus far the experiments seem to show that the 

 various classes of plants which have been tested are ben- 

 efited by sub-irrigation in about the following order, 

 beginning with those which show the greatest gain : 

 Eadishes, lettuce, cucumbers, cauliflower, beets, carna- 

 tions, violets, smilax, roses, tomatoes. It is quite prob- 

 able that further experiments will change the order, 

 but the list is a provisional one simply, and is given for 

 the general guidance of those who contemplate making 

 a trial of the method. Eadishes have generally shown 

 more marked gains by sub-irrigation than any other 

 crop, but in some trials lettuce has taken the first place. 

 By this method radishes grow quicker, hence come to a 

 marketable size earlier than by surface watering. It 

 usually happens that marketable radishes will be found 

 in both the surface and sub-irrigated beds at the same 

 time, but the larger number in the latter^ and ol greater 

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