CROPS UNDER GLASS 



57 



Mr. Work: Can you tell us, Professor Beal, why the 

 manure-sterilization-lime system will not work with flowers? 



Professor Beal: It is the general practice of the florists 

 to grow their crops in one year, throw out the soil, put in new 

 soil and replant. I know of some florists that are trying to 

 grow carnations, for example, two years in the same soil, and 

 I have heard of places where they claim that they can grow 

 carnations three years in the same soil. Most of the men who 

 have tried that have found out to their sorrow that it did not 

 pay. Just what takes place in that soil which makes it such 

 that it cannot produce a good crop of flowers the next season 

 I do not think anybody knows deflnitely. There is a good 

 chance for investigation which we hope to get at some time. 

 Whether there are toxic properties there, due to fertilization 

 which the florist gives his soil throughout the winter season, 

 or whether it is due to the changed physical character of that 

 soil, from the heavy watering and heavy manuring, I am not 

 sure. It may be both. The florist simply changes his soil 

 because he feels the other system pays best. Probably it 

 might be well to say for those who are not familiar with the 

 growing of most florist crops that are benched that they are 

 grown in four or five inches of soil on the bench. Or else, if 

 they do not use the wooden benches, they use concrete benches, 

 with tile or gravel below, but there are only four or five inches 

 of soil in which the crop is grown. So there are not the more; 

 natural changes taking place in that soil which probably do 

 take place in the greenhouses of the vegetable growers where 

 they are using practically the natural soil. 



Mr. Work : I am wondering if that is not getting pretty 

 close to the crux of the matter, — raising in benches or ground 

 beds. In raising lettuce in benches, Mr. Zuck, is it necessary 

 to change it? 



Mr. Zuck: I don't know. Father started in business 

 about twenty-five years ago with the old beds. In later years 

 it has been the practice to leave the soil in. 



Mr. Work: Did you ever maintain soil in the benches 

 year after year? 



