324 Reporr or rHe HorricuLTURAL DEPARTMENT OF THE 
almost wholly confined to American agricultural experiment 
stations. The most important results of these investigations are 
summarized in the following paragraphs. Mr. F. H. Hall has 
kindly assisted in preparing this summary. 
In experiments in 1888-9 by Maynard,” on lettuce under glass, 
muriate and sulphate of potash, nitrate of soda, sulphate of 
ammonia and dissolved bone black were used on two crops; the 
same fertilizers and nitrate of potash on a third crop. These 
were applied dissolved in water, but the amounts used and the 
character of the soil are not stated. Mildew affected all plats, 
the nitrate of soda plat worst. 
Sulphate of ammonia gave the best lettuce with two crops, 
but a decidedly inferior product for the third crop. Nitrate of 
soda, and both muriate and sulphate of potash were of no bene- 
fit; even apparently injurious in some crops, the results with 
sulphate being quite unfavorable. Bone black gave conflicting 
results. The single test with nitrate of potash showed apparent 
benefit. 
In 1892 Green® applied various nitrogenous fertilizers to let- 
tuce and other greenhouse crops on a rich compost, using double 
the amount applied in outdoor work. No benefit was obtained, 
thus showing that the limitations of these fertilizers, so far as 
stimulating plant growth on such soil is concerned, are narrower 
than some had supposed. 
In 1892-3 Goessmann! grew lettuce under glass on a sandy 
loam very low in humus and fertilizing ingredients. Commer- 
cial fertilizers and chemicals were used in various combinations, 
each box receiving the same amount of nitrogen, potash and 
phosphoric acid, the last always in dissolved bone black. 
Maynard’s results with muriate of potash were confirmed by 
the strikingly unfavorable influence shown by it in these tests; 
but, contrary to his experience, potash in the simple sulphate 
or the magnesia sulphate gave the most satisfactory growth. 

*Maynard, 8S. T. Mass. Hateh Sta. Bul. 10:1-5 (1890). 
Green, W. J. Ohio Sta. Bul. 48:100, 101. 
*Goessmann, C. A. Mass. State Sta. Ann. Rept. 1893:241-261, 
