484 Report oF THE HortTicuLTuRIST OF THE 
. INTRODUCTION. 
Some experiments with the use of commercial fertilizers in 
forcing lettuce were started in the fall of 1896 in connection with 
the tests of soil mixtures which have been discussed on preceding 
pages. our soil mixtures were tried at this time, three of which 
received acid phosphate, sulphate of potash and stable manure 
liberally, and in equal quantities, and differed from each other 
only in the amounts of nitrate of soda which were applied to them. 
The fourth mixture, Soil 12, received the same amount of stable 
manure as the others but none of commercial fertilizers, as is 
shown in the following table: 
TABLE VI.— INGREDIENTS OF SOILS USED AND FERTILIZERS APPLIED IN LETTUCE 








FORCING. 
a Ingredients (by weight). Fertilizers applied per acre. 
K Ol . ee eee ——— OS SSS) ar EE Re  pakerw ~ ee -— 
mixture. Clay Rand Stable Acid Sulphate Nitrate 
loam. : manure. phosphate. of potash. of soda. 
_ Per ct. Per ct. Per. ct. Lbs. I bs. Lbs. 
Pe ate 52.2 32.3 15.5 600 400 133 1-3 
y Pe pos Sa Hp awe 15.5 ee aes 
AS ss sate cise WPRE- Soeo 15.5 600 400 
a I t Soactharess Cys cies S250 SL 
600 400 266 2-3 


A head lettuce, Rawson’s New Hothouse, grown from purchased 
seed, was used for these tests. 
After this crop was removed, acid phosphate and sulphate of 
potash were applied to the soils which had received them before 
and at the same rate as formerly. All soils were then turned and 
prepared for another crop. The method of planting the seeds and 
selecting and managing the plants was the same for all soils as - 
for Soil 4a, Crop ITI, which have been described on page 470. 
Six weeks after seed planting, when the plants had become well 
established, nitrate of soda was first applied at the rate of 33 1-3 
pounds per acre for Soil 4a and 66 2-3 pounds for Soil 14a. Two 
similar applications followed at intervals of 10 days, making the 
