BOOKS AND BULLETINS. 



239 



h3 geQ3ral mirkst, while la;; complete, indicate that 

 »the acreage is at least 2,000, with an average yield of 6 

 tons per acre, and an average selling price of 25 cents 

 per basket of 30 pounds. Calculations based on these 

 statistics show that the annual value of the crop to the 

 farmers of New Jersey is over $1,000,000. As compar- 

 ed in point of money value with the staple crops grown 

 in the state, tomatoes rank be low hay, Indian corn and po- 

 tatoes, 7cn//i wheat, and above oats, rye and buckwheat." 

 "Practical experience in regard to the growth of the 

 crop has led to the belief that while both 

 Fertilizing barnyard manure and commercial fertil- 

 and Yield. izers increase the yield, it is at the ex- 

 pense of maturity, especially in the case 

 of fertilizers; and that the best effect of barnyard ma- 

 nure is shown when it has been applied in the fall pre- 

 vious to ^e year of growth." In order to determine the 

 influence of fertilizing upon the yield and maturity, ex- 

 tensive tests were made with nitrate of soda, with the 

 following results : i. That nitrate of soda, while increas- 

 ing the yield, does not do so at the expense of maturity 

 when a small quantity is used, or when a large quantity 

 is used in two applications. 2. That nitrate of soda in- 

 creased the yield at expense of maturity when used in 

 large quantities in one application. 3. That nitrate ni- 

 trogen is the ruling element in the growth of tomatoes, 

 and that its best effect is dependent upon the method of 

 application, and on the presence or absence in the soil of 

 a full supply of the mineral elements, phosphoric acid 

 and potash. ' ' Nitrate of soda was effective in increasing 

 the yield in every case. It was effective in increasing 

 maturity from both the standpoints of yield and money 

 value on six out of the eight plots upon which it was ap- 

 plied." "The increase in yield from the least effective 

 use of nitrate of soda was 226 baskets " on one-twentieth 

 of an acre, as compared with unmanured soil. 



Investigations were made to determine what effect the 

 nitrate of soda may have upon the composition of the 

 fruit and vines ' ' In the average corn- 

 Composition position of the tomatoes from the plots 

 of Tomatoes as on which nitrate was used alone, and 

 influenced by those on which it was used with phos- 

 Treatment. phoric acid and potash, the carbohy- 



drates and moisture are practically 

 identical, while decided differences are noticed in pro- 

 teine, fat and ash. The proteine is 10 per cent, lower, 

 the fat 14 per cent, higher and the ash 20 per cent, higher 

 when the nitrate was used in connection with phosphoric 

 acid and potash ; and in both cases there is an increased 

 percentage in all classes of food compounds over those 

 found in the sample taken from the unfertilized plot, 

 and equal in every respect to those from samples on the 

 manured plot. This result is just the reverse of the quite 

 general belief, based largely upon prejudice, that garden 

 produce grown by the use of artificial fertilizers is watery, 

 tasteless and less nutritious than when grown without fer- 

 tilizers or with barnyard manure. The tomatoes were a 

 magnificent crop in every respect; large, smooth and 

 solid, Upon cutting the tomatoes at the time of sam- 



pling, a very decided difference in the appearance of 

 pulp was noticed. Those from the nitrated or manured 

 plots were much more solid and with less seeds than 

 from the unmanured, or from the plot fertilized with 

 phosphoric acid and potash. What appeared a decided 

 difference to the eye is confirmed by a chemical analysis." 



" A crop of tomatoes removes twice as much potash 

 and over 50 per cent, more nitrogen than 

 either a crop of white or sweet potatoes; Effect upon 

 nearly twice as much phosphoric acid as the Land, 

 white potatoes, and more than four times 

 as much as sweet potatoes." Wheat, oats and timothy 

 hay remove more nitrogen than tomatoes do. and timothy 

 hay removes over 50 per cent, more potash." 



Bulletin No. 7, Hatch Experiment Station of 

 Massachusetts. The horticultural portion of this bul- 

 letin. l)y S. T. Maynard, was reviewed last month, save 

 that the following paragraphs were omitted. 



Many varieties of sweet corn, of which samples were 

 grown in New England and some of 



the Middle States, were tested for Sweet Corn from 

 the purpose of determining what in- East and West, 

 fluence locality may have upon the 



quality. Chemical analyses were made " when the ker- 

 nels were just passing from the milk." The results were 

 indifferent. Sulphate of copper placed in a Paris green 

 mixture and sprayed on potatoes, appeared to check rot. 



Experiments of last year have been repeated. Lime, 

 cement and Paris green washes are 



all good. Their adhesiveness can Protection from 

 be increased by the addition of skim Rats and Mice- 

 milk. A paint is made of Portland 



cement and milk, and to each two gallons a tablespoon- 

 ful of Paris green is added. L. H. B. 



Liberty and a Living. T/u- A'l-iorii of m: Attempt to 

 seiHrc Bi'ctid and Butter, SiiusJiiiie and Content, In' Oar- 

 dening. Fishing and Hunting. By Pliilip C. liuhert, Jr. 

 G. F. I'ntnain's Sons.. Publishers, AVto Vorh. Mr. Hu- 

 bert's bright and earnest little book is an inspiration to 

 country li\ ing. It is not a romance of the kitchen gar- 

 den, but the true story of a man who, for years, worked 

 on the big papers in the city — for a living and nothing 

 more. Only a comfortable living in the city with never 

 a sight of the fields, the woods and the sea. 

 He at last decided to live in the country for the Liberty 

 greater part of the year and to make a gardeji and a 

 assist in supporting his family. He took up Living, 

 gardening, not to make money, but to save 

 money. The idea was that, as a literary man, he had 

 every day from one to four hours spare time, and that if 

 these odd moments were spent in a garden the labor 

 would be of benefit to his health and would pay a good 

 return in fruits and vegetables that he could sell to him- 

 self. His garden proved a success and made it possible 

 to li\ e in the country nine months of the year and made 

 the work of earning a living less laborious. He won food 

 from the ground for his little ones, contentment, happi- 

 ness and glorious good health for the entire family, and 

 his very clear book sets forth just how, C. B. 



