24 Direcror’s Report OF THE 
these experiments repeated applications at the rate of 15 per ct. 
to 20 per et. of manure proved not only wasteful of manure but 
also lessened the yield. 
As in the previous experiments reported in Bulletin 146 the 
clay loam gave better crops of lettuce than the sandy loam when 
both were given equal amounts of stable manure. 
The amount of manure which it is economical to use in forcing 
lettuce necessarily varies with the character of the manure and 
of the soil. It aiso would vary to some extent with the differ- 
ence between the prices received for fancy lettuce and those 
received for the ordinary grades. For these rasons definite 
amounts cannot be recommended. 
CROP PRODUCTION. 
Commercial fertilizers in onion growing.—Experiments in the 
use of different quantities of a complete fertilizer in growing 
onions were conducted at Florida, Orange Co., N. Y., for four 
years on the same field and for one year on a field of another 
farm. 
The quantities of fertilizer used per acre were none, 500 Ibs., 
1000 Ibs., 1500 Ibs. and. 2000 Ibs. 
On the Purdy field (4 years), when only 500 Ibs. of fertilizer 
was used the manure cost of the increase of crop was 16.6 cts. 
per barrel; with 1000 lbs., 79.3 cts., with 1500 lbs., 80.4 cts., and 
with 2000 Ibs., 227.8 cts. 
The profit from using the fertilizer came mostly from the first 
500 Ibs. applied, averaging $35.84 per acre. With onions at 
$1.25 per barrel the profit was slightly larger (about $3 per 
acre), with both the 1000 Ibs. and 1500 lbs. of fertilizer per acre; 
but 2000 lbs. was used at a loss. 
On the Mars field one experiment was conducted which showed 
no increase of yield from applying commercial fertilizer even in 
the larger quantities. 
The results of these experiments show clearly that the crops 
were limited more by other conditions than by the extent of the 
plant food supply. With the best conditions of season and water 
