1112 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXXI, No. 12 
Yi inch in 1913 and % inch in 1914. Sand was spread by one-hand 
leveling boards and the depth was gauged by numerous toothpicks 
inserted to project % inch above the sowing surface. 
The one-quarter shade and no-shade plots in 1913 were 4 feet 
square and occupied one-third of the beds. They were sown with 
about 375 seed per square foot by distributing as evenly as possible 
an equal amount of seed over each plot, the seed being weighed out 
to centigrams. The one-half shade plot was 2 feet square in the 
J^-inch cover, broadcast plot, and was also sown at the rate of 375 
seeds per square foot by weight. 
In the 1914 tests all plots were 3 % feet by 4 feet, the short dimen¬ 
sion being caused by a vacant space left at the ends of each bed so 
that conditions surrounding the end plots might be similar to those 
surrounding the plots in the middle of the bed. Three equal quan¬ 
tities of seed, weighed out to centigrams so as to provide about 350 
seeds per square foot, were evenly distributed over the plots. 
To prevent damping-off, the 1914 plots were sprinkled with dilute 
sulphuric acid applied two-thirds before sowing and one-third after 
covering, at the rate of fluid ounce of acid to 1 y pints of water per 
square foot. The 1913 plots were not sterilized. 
Germination and survival counts were restricted to certain parts 
of each plot because of the limited time available for such work, 
except for the small one-half shade plot of 1913, which was counted 
completely. In the other 1913 plots a counting area 2 feet square 
was marked off in the center by pressing lath into the soil edgewise. 
In the 1914 plots two areas 1 foot square were used. These were 
centrally located about 1 foot from either side of the bed and marked 
by bent telephone wire laid on the surface and fastened by pegs. 
Standard shade screens, made by nailing common lath to an outside 
frame of 2-inch strips at a distance of one lath width apart, were used 
to furnish one-half shade. One-quarter shade was provided by the use 
of lath sawed in half lengthwise, and spaced 1 y full lath widths apart. 
Such a frame distributed the light and shade more uniformly than 
if full-width laths spaced 3 widths apart had been used. The no¬ 
shade plots received full light, except for a little shade along the 
edges of the south side and ends of each bed caused by the 2-inch 
bars of the protective frame and the i^-inch mesh wire of the screens. 
Beds were laid out in an east-and-west direction so that the lath 
shadows would move from west to east. During both years shade 
frames were left on continuously from the time of sowing until the 
end of September. 
Watering was carefully regulated in each season so as to give 
uniform treatment to all plots. With the nozzle set at a certain 
point, all beds were sprayed for the same number of minutes at each 
watering. 
The stock raised in 1913 was transplanted May 1 and 2, 1914, and 
was divided into separate lots according to the degree of shade it had 
received. Part of the 1914 stock was transplanted in November, 
1914, and was kept separate according to degree of shading and 
months of germination. The rest of this stock, separated only 
according to degree of shading, was transplanted April 26,' 1915. 
All transplanting was done with a standard Yale board in trenches 
dug with a spade, and the work was uniform for all lots. 
