THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY *. ^*' NON CIRCULATING CHECK FOR UNBOUND CIRCULATING COPY UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS Agricultural Experiment Station BULLETIN NO. 155 FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS BY JOHN W. URBANA, ILLINOIS, APRIL, 1912 SUMMARY OF BULLETIN No. 155 1. This publication reports the results of fertilizer experiments with musk- melons conducted at Anna, in Union county, and at Kinmundy, in Marion county, for five years. Page 25 2. Twenty different fertilizer treatments were employed. Page 26 3. The melons were grown by the transplanting method at Anna; while at Kinmundy the seed was planted directly in the field. Page 29 4. A mixture of steamed bone, dried blood and potassium sulfate, applied to the hills, had an unfavorable influence on the germination of seed in the field-planted crop. Page 29 5. Marked differences appeared in the vigor and rapidity of growth of the young plants, which were plainly attributable to ' differences in the fertilizer treatment of the various plats. Manuring in the hill seemed especially favor- able to the rapid development of the young plants. Page 31 6. The melons on the untreated plat in the field-planted crop were con- siderably later in ripening than those on plats manured in the hill. Page 38 7. In the field-planted crop, plats manured in the hill gave much higher average yields of early melons than those manured broadcast only. Page 40 8. The average total yields were increased by supplementing the manure in the hill by a light application of manure broadcast. Page 43 9. The average value of the crop for the five years at Anna was greatest from the plat in which the manuring in the hill was supplemented by a broad- cast application of a complete fertilizer, composed of steamed bone, dried blood, and potassium sulfate ; and at Kinmundy the average value of the crop resulting from this treatment was practically the same as that of the crop on the plat manured both broadcast and in the hills, which ranked first in respect to value of the crop. Page 47 10. However, on account of the high cost of the material for this treat- ment, the net profits were greater from crops grown under some of the other treatments. In the field-planted crop the greatest average profit for the five years was from the plat in which rock phosphate was used with the manure in the hills. However, during the time the plat treated with one-eighth scoop- shovelful of manure per hill was included in the tests, the average net profits at bqth places were greater from this than from any of the other treatments, on account of the low cost of the material due to the smallness of the quantity used. Page 49 IT. Conclusions. Page 63 FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS BY JOHN W. L/LfOYD, CHIEF IN OLERICULTURE The Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station has conducted fer- tilizer experiments with muskmelons at Anna, in Union county, and at Kinmundy, in Marion county, during the seasons of 1905, 1906, 1907, 1908 and 1909. The chief objects of the experi- ments have been to determine (i) the relative efficiency of dif- ferent amounts of manure and methods of application of manure, (2) the effect of supplementing manure with commercial forms of phosphorus, (3) the effect of using a complete commercial fertilizer in connection with manure, and (4) the effect of substi- tuting commercial fertilizer for manure, in the production of Gem melons under soil conditions and cultural methods typical of two of the leading melon producing regions of Illinois. At both places the experiments have been conducted on typi- cal melon soil of the region, that at Anna being unglaciated yellow silt loam, and that at Kinmundy, gray silt loam. The experi- ments at Anna were conducted on land that had been under cul- tivation for sixty or seventy years, and that, within recent years, had been manured and fertilized in various ways for the produc- tion of truck crops. The land used at Kinmundy, except in 1907, had been very recently cleared of timber, and that used in 1907 had been in sod for a number of years previous to 1904. The land used in 1905 had produced only one crop preceding the melons, and the melons constituted the first crop produced after clearing, on the land used in 1908 and 1909. So far as known, the land used these three years had never been manured or fertil- ized in any way previous to its preparation for th^se melons. The land used in 1906 and 1907 had received one light applica- tion of manure for preceding crops after breaking from the sod. At both places a different piece of land was used for the experi- ments each year, so that there was no cumulative effect of the fertilizer treatments employed. Thruout the series of experiments plats consisting of sixty- four (64) hills each have been employed. The hills in each plat were arranged in four rows of sixteen hills each. At Anna the 25 26 BULLETIN No. 155 [April, hills were four and one-half feet apart each way except the first year, when they were four and one-half by five feet. Planted at the former distance each plat occupied .0297 of an acre, and at the latter distance .033 of an acre. At Kimnundy the hills were placed four feet one and one-half inches apart each way, so that the sixty-four hills .occupied an area one rod wide and four rods long, or exactly one-fortieth of an acre. FERTILIZER TREATMENTS EMPLOYED Twenty different fertilizer treatments have been employed, tho not all the different treatments have been used at both places every "year. The various treatments were as follows, the quanti- ties of fertilizing material mentioned being the amounts applied per plat, except where otherwise designated : Plat i. 500 pounds manure broadcast Plat 2. 500 pounds manure and sixteen pounds steamed bone broadcast Plat 3. 500 pounds manure and sixteen pounds rock phosphate broadcast Plat 4. 500 pounds manure broadcast, and one-fourth scoop-shovelful ma- nure per hill Plat 5. 1000 pounds manure broadcast Plat 6. One-eighth scoop-shovelful manure per hill, not mixed with soil Plat 7. One-fourth scoop-shovelful manure per hill, not mixed with soi! Plat 8. One-fourth scoop-shovelful manure per hill, thoroly mixed with soil Plat 9. One-fourth scoop-shovelful manure and one-fourth pound steamed bone per hill, thoroly mixed together Plat 10. One- fourth scoop'-shovelful manure and one- fourth pound rock- phosphate per hill, thoroly mixed together Plat ii. Twenty pounds complete commercial fertilizer applied broadcast, and one-fourth scoop-shovelful manure per hill Plat 12. Twenty pounds complete commercial fertilizer and fifty pounds lime broadcast, and one-fourth scoop-shovelful manure per hill Plat 13. One-half scoop'-shovelful manure per hill, not mixed with soil Plat 14. One-half scoop-shovelful manure per hill, thoroly mixed with soil Plat 15. Check. No fertilizer or manure Plat 16. One-fourth pound steamed bone per hill, thoroly mixed with soil Plat 17. Five ounces complete commercial fertilizer per hill, not mixed with soil Plat 18. Five ounces complete commercial fertilizer per hill, thoroly mixed with soil Plat 19. Sixteen pounds steamed bone broadcast, and one-fourth scoop- shovelful manure per hill Plat 20. Sixteen pounds rock phosphate broadcast, and one-fourth scoop- shovelful manure per hill. 1912} FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS 27 The complete commercial fertilizer used in Plats n, 12, 17 and 1 8 consisted of two parts steamed bone, two parts dried blood, and one part potassium sulfate. The ingredients for each plat were weighed out separately and thoroly mixed before be- ing applied. In 1905 forty pounds of this fertilizer were used per plat, instead of twenty as specified in the above outline. The amount was reduced because of the detrimental effect of the larger quantity when applied to the hills. It will be observed that in the case of all the commercial fer- tilizers used, the same amount was used per plat whether the ma- terial was applied broadcast or in the hills, since one-fourth pound per hill is equivalent to sixteen pounds per plat of sixty- four hills, and likewise five ounces per hill is equivalent to twenty pounds per plat. At the distances the hills were planted at Anna in 19/35, there would be 1936 hills per acre, so that one-fourth pound of fertili- zer per hill would be at the rate of 484 pounds per acre. In the other years the melons were planted at Anna at the rate of 2151 hills per acre, so that the same amount of fertilizer per hill would be at the rate of 537-75 pounds per acre. At Kinmundy there were 2560 hills per acre, so that one-fourth pound of fertilizer to the hill would be at the rate of 640 pounds per acre. In all cases the manure applied to the hills was well rotted as a result of having been ricked up several months previous to the time of its application, and "turned" a sufficient number of times to insure good mechanical condition. However, it varied con- siderably in moisture content and amount of litter in the different years, so that the quantity by weight used per hill was never twice alike for the same treatment. The extent of this variation is well illustrated in the following table, which gives the weight of the manure used each year in plats where one- fourth scoop- shovelful per hill was specified. TABI.E l. WEIGHT OK MANURE USED IN HIIJ.S 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 Average Anna per hill per plat per acre 6.881b. 440.321b. 6.67 tons S.OOlb. 320.001b. 5.38 tons 3.751b. 240.001b. 4.03 tons 3. 00 Ib. 192.001b. 3. 22 tons 3.2Slb. 208.001b. 3. 50 tons 4.371b. 280.00 Ib. 4.56 tons Kinmundy per hill per plat per acre 3.47 Ib. 221.441b. 4.44 tons 3.371b. 216.00 Ib. 4.32 tons 6.251b. 400.001b. 8.00 tons 4.501b. 238.001b. 5.76 tons 6.001b. 3S4.001b. 7. 68 tons 4.721b. 302001b. 6.04 tons 28 BULLETIN No. 155 [April, For the broadcast applications fresh manure \vas used at Kin- mundy in 1905 and 1906, but for all the other broadcast appli- cations of manure the same kind of manure was used as in the hills, namely, well-rotted horse or mule manure that had been hauled from the city stables or shipped in from St. Louis. Except at Anna in 1907 the broadcast applications of manure were made before the land was plowed. That year the manure was spread on the plowed ground and disked in. The steamed bone and rock phosphate broadcasted on Plats 2 and 3 were scattered over the manure after it had been spread on the land. The fertilizers applied broadcast to Plats n, 12, 19 and 20 were scattered by hand after the land had been plowed and disked. These applications were usually made immediately be- fore the final fitting of the land for planting, and at Anna the applications were usually not made until after the land had been furrowed out for planting. In this case the 'fertilizers were mixed with the soil by means of a cultivator instead of a harrow as was done at Kinmundy. In the application of manure to the hills, the customary method in the given region was employed, except where a comparison of methods of application was to be made. At Anna the common practice of commercial growers is to mix the manure thoroly with the soil of the hill by means of a cultivator or a hoe; while at Kinmundy it is customary to place the manure in the furrow and cover it with fine soil without mixing. Therefore at Anna the manure applied to the hills was mixed with the soil except in plats specified to the contrary; while at Kinmundy the oppo- site method was employed except where specified. In using manure in the hills in conjunction with any form of commercial fertilizer, applied either broadcast or in the hills, one-fourth scoop-shovelful of manure per hill has been the quan- tity employed, since this is a normal amount used by commercial growers, tho there are wide differences in the practice of differ- ent growers. When manure and commercial fertilizer of any kind were both applied to the hills, they were mixed thoroly to- gether whether they were to be mixed with the. soil or not. They \vere mixed with the soil at Anna, but not at Kinmundy. In Plats 1 6 and 18 at Anna, and also at Kinmundy in 1905, the fertilizers were mixed with the soil thruout the hill, while at Kin- mundy the other years the fertilizer was mixed with soil in the bottom of the furrow, and then covered two or three inches deep with pure soil in which to plant the seeds. 19I 2\ FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS PLANTING AND CARE OF THE CROP* In both localities the methods of culture typical of the respec- tive regions were employed. At Anna the transplanting method was used ; while at Kinmundy the seed was planted directly in the field. This difference in cultural methods will account for some of the differences in results at the two places, since at Anna the plants were grown for the first month under uniform conditions, and did not come under the influence of the different fertilizer treatments until they were transplanted to the field, while at Kin- mundy the plants were subject to the influence of the different fertilizers from the very beginning. In caring for the growing crop the methods employed were those practiced by the most careful growers in the respective regions; and in addition, tillage was usually continued later than is practiced by most growers, and also spraying was resorted to during the last three years for the sake of controlling the rust. INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZER UPON STAND OF PLANTS Since the melons at Anna were started in a hotbed under uniform conditions, the different fertilizer treatments in the field could have no influence upon the germination of the seed and the stand of young seedlings. However, at Kinmundy, where the seed was planted directly in the field, there were often marked differences in the stand of plants in different plats, and at least part of these differences seemed attributable to the differences in fertilizer treatment. Table 2 gives the number of live hills in each plat at Kinmundy, based on counts made within a few weeks after the plants were up. It is true that there was sometimes a loss of a few hills by reason of attacks of striped beetles before the count was made, but it is also true that in the plats showing the poorest stands many hills were missing from the very start, so that, in a general way at least, the figures given are a true index to the influence of the different fertilizer treatments upon the stand of plants. In 1907 the original planting made May 23 suffered so severely from cold, wet weather that none of the plats gave a satisfactory stand, and the entire plantation was hoed up and replanted June 15. The figures for the first planting in 1907 are not included in the averages for the five years. *General information regarding the planting and care of muskmelons is contained in Circular 139 of the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station. 30 BULLETIN No. 155 [A^ril, TABLE 2. STAND OF PLANTS: NUMBER OK L,IVE HILLS IN BACH PLAT, KINMUNDY 1905 1906 (1907) 1907 1908 1909 ir- aee 4-> rt Date planted May 19 May May 23 June 15 May 29 May 20 fc Date counted June 8 June 30 June 14 July 29 June 15 June 21 1 61 54 (29) 56 53 64 57 6 2 3 4 Manure and steamed bone broadcast Manure and rock phosphate broadcast Manure broadcast and in hills 62 59 59 61 59 60 (24) (20) (27) 56 64 61 52 55 61 63 61 64 58.8 59.6 61 5 ft Manure broadcast (double amount) . . /4 shovel manure in hills 58 61 57 (10) (14) 54 61 60 61 64 64 59.4 60 7 7 Q 1 4 shovel manure in hills, not mixed. . % shovel manure in hills, mixed 61 59 60 58 (19) (26) 55 56 63 61 64 63 60.6 59 4 9 10 11 Manure and steamed bone in hills. . . . Manure and rock phosphate in hills . . Manure in hills, complete fertilizer broadcast 46 60 57 48 55 53 (39) (24) (24) 54 54 60 61 59 64 64 64 64 54.6 58.4 59 6 12 Manure in hills, complete fertilizer and lime broadcast 53 54 (33) 59 46 64 55.2 13 14 Yz shovel manure in hills, not mixed. . % shovel manure in hills, mixed 49 57 48 53 (43) (38) 56 61 58 59 64 64 55.0 58 8 IS Check. No fertilizer or manure 54 46 (30 64 54 64 56 4 16 Steamed bone in hills 48 36 (16) 63 38 64 49 8 17 18 19 Complete fertilizer in hills, not mixed Complete fertilizer in hills, mixed. . . . Manure in hills, steamed bone broad- cast 36 8 58 35 24 49 (28) (34) 53 44 36 39 64 63 63 44.8 35.6 20 Manure in hills, rock phosphate broadcast 55 56 64 The most striking features about this table are the relatively poor stands recorded for' Plats 17 and 18. With the exception of one year (1909) the stands in these two plats were very poor. Three seasons the stand in Plat 16 was also poor, and two seas- ons in Plat 9. These observations indicate that the complete commercial fertilizer (a mixture of steamed bone, dried blood and potassium snlfate) applied to the hills in the quantities em- ployed, 'usually interferes with the proper germination of the seed and development of the young plants. The most marked ef- fect of all appeared in Plat 18 in 1905, when a large amount of the fertilizer was used, and the seed was planted directly in the mixture of fertilizer and soil instead of being placed in a layer of pure soil above the mixture of soil and fertilizer. This indi- cates that fertilizer of this kind applied in quantity to the hills, is too strong for the young seedlings and is likely to kill them before they appear above ground. The same quantity of the fertilizer per plat applied broadcast had no such detrimental ef- fect. The apparent exception to this statement, in the case of Plat 12 in 1908, can be explained by the fact that the striped 1912} FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS 31 beetles had made a severe attack on this plat and destroyed an unusual number of hills before the count was made. The influ- ence of steamed bone in the hills should also not be passed with- out notice. This material seems to act differently under different seasonal conditions, but the figures given indicate that it is a rather unsafe material to use alone in the hills and may have an unfavorable influence on germination even when used in com- bination with manure in the hills ; tho it is probable that if the mixture of manure and steamed bone in Plat 9 in 1905 and 1906 had been more deeply covered with soil than was the case, the unfavorable effect upon germination might have been eliminated. The poor stands in Plat 13 in 1905 and 1906 were plainly attributable to the fact that the furrows were not made deep enough for the proper application of such large quantities of manure. When the precaution was taken to cover the manure more deeply, as in the three succeeding years, better stands were secured. INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZER UPON VIGOR OF VINE Not only were there differences in the stand of plants, but also marked differences in the rapidity of growth and general FIG. l. INFLUENCE OK MANURE ON EARLY GROWTH OP MELON PLANTS. PLAT 14 (HEAVILY MANURED IN HILLS) AT LEFT; PLAT 15 (No FER- TILIZER OR MANURE) AT RIGHT KIXMUNDY, JUNE 30, 1906. 32 BULLETIN No. 155 [April, vigor of the young plants, evidently due to differences in fertili- zer treatment. Each year notes were taken in reference to the relative size and general vigor "of the plants in the various plats at Kinmundy about a month after the seed was planted, and again about the time the fruit was setting. Three years addi- tional notes were taken shortly before the beginning of the pick- ing season. The accompanying tabular statement gives in con- densed form an idea of the relative size and vigor of the plants in the different plats at Kinmundy at the dates mentioned. It will be seen by reference to the column at the left under each year, that there were usually marked differences in the early growth of the young plants. Reference to the other columns shows that these initial differences were often maintained until the beginning of the picking season. This indicates that there was a fairly close relation between the character of the plants early in the season and their condition when setting fruit and maturing the crop, and emphasizes the importance of a vigorous start. It is true that modifying influences sometimes arose which entirely changed the relative vigor of the plants in certain plats, as the season advanced. This was the case in Plat 16 in 1905 and 1907. Altho the plants were vigorous and apparently healthy at the start, the leaves later turned brown at the edges and as- sumed a sickly appearance. This damage was plainly due to the unfavorable influence of the fertilizer, which did not become evi- dent until after the plants had made a good start. The poor showing of the same plat in 1906 was due to the same cause. The edges of the leaves turned brown also in 1908, but the in- jury was not severe enough to seriously affect the general appear- ance of the plants. This same "browning" of the leaves was usually much worse in Plats 17 and 18 than in Plat 16, and caused these plats to be .usually rated as "poor" or "very poor." The fertilizer in these two plats not only interfered with the proper germination of the seed, but most years seriously impaired the vigor of the plants, and caused many of them to die without producing any fruit. FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS ccccccccccc eeegcseec EEESEEEEEEE o 33 ...... S S S ... .. O "O 'S 01 ai T) T> a) aj c C C C C ^ QJ-C fc. o o o c o o c c"Cc J w s fc o o o ...,, ,, .3 .i5 O S 5 o o 5 .11 .5 o o .- . o o o rtrtO.tjOOOOtrlnJ OOrtrtOOO Ortrtcaoooo cOa .i3o.t3 . o o o o a 'O'O'O.'O'O'O'O.. L J LLi-i I O. J 'O .S o o o ." o o o o .a . .S .3 .2 o o .2 o rtOOOrtOOOOrtrt rtrtrtoOrtO 8 . . .tJOOrtO rt rtOrtOOrt " rtrtOO.3 O o OrtrtO.-O 111 38 BULLETIN No. 155 [April, The most striking difference in the effects of the fertilizers at Anna as compared with the results at Kinmundy, was observed in Plats 1 6, 17 and 18. Except in Plat 18 the first year, the plants in these plats at Anna did not show the unfavorable effect of the fertilizers by browning of the edges of the leaves, as was the case at Kinmundy. The fertilizers used in these plats are evi- dently less likely to cause injury to transplanted plants, which have grown for a month before coming under the influence of the fertilizer, than to plants grown from seeds planted directly in the hills containing the fertilizer. INFLUENCE OF FERTILIZER UPON EARLINESS AND YIELD Interesting and important as is the influence of different fer- tilizer treatments upon the vegetative growth of the melon plant, the real test of efficiency of a given fertilizer treatment is its in- fluence upon the earliness of ripening, and yield of marketable melons. In the experimental work at both Anna and Kinmundy the melons were picked at the stage of maturity most desirable for the market.* The plantation was gone over almost every day, and sometimes even twice a day at the height of the season. The product of each plat at each picking was graded into "market- able melons" and "culls," and, except at Anna in 1905, the mark- etable melons were further divided into "No. I's" and "No. 2's." The standard of grading employed was that described in Bulle- tin 124 of the Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station (pp. 302-306). All melons corresponding to the description of "fancy" and "No. i" stock as therein set forth were entered in the yield records as "No. i," and the rest of the marketable mel- ons as "No. 2." The number of specimens of each grade was re- corded, and also the total weight of the melons of each grade. A record was also kept of the selling price of melons each day during the shipping season, In making up the yield records from the daily picking records, a division wa? made between early and late melons. Under normal market conditions prices are highest during the early part of the shipping season from a given point. This period of relatively high prices may continue for a few days or for over two weeks, depending upon the rapid- ity of ripening of the melons in the locality. As soon as the volume of shipments from a given locality becomes large, prices usually drop quite suddenly, unless there is a scarcity *See Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station Bulletin 124, pp. 208-302. 39 of melons from other sources. In the records of these experi- ments the division between early and late melons was made at the time prices dropped. In the few instances when there was no marked change in price during the season, owing to the in- fluence of the supply from other regions, the division was made when the volume of the pickings began to increase rapidly, and when, under normal market conditions, the price would have dropped. The following table gives the dates of the first and last picking of early melons, and the close of the season for shipping melons from the experimental plantations each year, together with a statement of the length of the period during which "early melons" were picked and the duration of the entire shipping season. TABI.E 3. DATA REGARDING LENGTH OP PICKING SEASON OK AND LATE MELONS ANNA 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 Date of first picking July 12 July 20 9 Aug. 7 27 July 12 July 20 9 Aug. 3 23 July 27 Aug. 10 15 Sept. 9 45 July 15 Aug. 1 18 Aug. 17 34 July 12 July 25 14 Aug. 13 33 No. days picking early melons . . . Close of shipping season Length of shipping season (days) . . . KlNMUNDY 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 Date of first picking Aug. 10 Aug. 19 10 Sept. 4 26 Aug. 3 Aug. 18 16 Sept.10 39 Aug. 27 Sept. 14 19 Oct. 4 39 Aug. 17 Aug. 29 13 Sept. 17 32 Aug. 9 Aug. 13 5 Aug. 26 18 Last of early melons No. days picking early melons Close of shipping season Length of shipping season days) . . RELATIVE TIME OF RIPENING OF EARLIEST MELONS The influence of the fertilizer upon the time of ripening of the first fruits was more marked in the field-planted crop (at Kin- mundy) than in the transplanted crop (at Anna). The num- ber of days from the planting of the seed until the first ripe melon was picked from each plat each year at Kinmundy, is given in Table 4, together with the averages for the five years. The most striking feature shown by this table is the marked delay in the maturity of the melons on the untreated or check plat and on the plats treated with a complete commercial fertilizer with- out manure, as compared with the manured plats, especially those receiving manure in the hills. 40 BULLETIN No. 155 [April, TABLE 4. NUMBER OF DAYS FROM PLANTING OF SEED TO PICKING OF FIRST RIPE MELON, KINMUNDY 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 Aver- age 4-1 rt Date of planting May 19 May 5 June 15 May 29 May 20 Treatment Manure broadcast 87 qq 79 oq 82 87 7 y Manure and steamed bone broadcast 87 92 79 91 82 Of. ? 3 Manure and rock phosphate broadcast Manure broadcast and in hills 85 QC 96 94 76 7fi 91 85 82 8? 86 04. 4. e Manure broadcast (double amount) 85 94 79 89 82 85 8 Ms shovel manure in hills 92 79 85 81 7 /^ shovel manure in hills, not mixed 85 94 79 83 82 84 6 % shovel manure in hills, mixed 85 94 76 85 82 84 4 o Manure and steamed bone in hills 87 93 76 85 82 84 6 10 Manure and rock phosphate in hills 85 96 76 80 82 83 8 11 12 Manure in hills, complete fertilizer broadcast Manure in hills, complete fertilizer and lime broadcast 83 85 95 93 73 73 80 85 82 82 82.6 83 6 1 \ J^ shovel manure in hills not mixed 85 94 79 85 82 85 ^s shovel manure in hills, mixed 85 93 73 80 82 82 6 15 Check. No fertilizer or manure 94 104 80 94 86 91 6 16 85 103 76 87 82 86.6 17 Complete fertilizer in hills, not mixed 98 114 86 92 84 94 8 1 9 Complete fertilizer in hills, mixed 104 83 92 84 19 20 Manure in hills, steamed bone broadcast. . . Manure in hills, rock phosphate broadcast. . 85 87 94 95 82 82 YIELDS OF EARLY MELONS The actual date of ripening of the earliest melon from a given plat is of less importance in determining the value of a given fer- tilizer treatment than is the quantity of melons matured during the normal season of high prices. Therefore, in considering the different fertilizer treatments in reference to their influence upon the earliness of the crop, the number of pounds of marketable melons which ripened before the normal drop in prices, has been used as the main basis of comparison. Owing to the difference in stand in the different plats, it has been thought best to reduce the yields to terms of pounds per hill for the sake of convenience in making comparisons. The number of hills participating in the yields of early melons in the different plats is given in Table 5. In 1905 a number of hills were replanted at Kinmundy three weeks after the original planting was made, and these replanted hills are not included in the count for early melons. Also in 1906 many hills at Kinmundy did not come up until after the rains in June (altho the seed was planted May 5), and these are not included in the counts, since they did not participate in the yield of early melons. All hills alive at the time the counts were made are considered as participating in the yields, even tho a few hills died from various causes before ripening their fruit. FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS IO w 5 g 3 ro C4 00 i-< 00 00 * t>- O ^O >O r-l TJ- rO CO -f 00 r-t * kO VO Ot>cOt^cO \O CO to O 00 VO 1> O CO VO CO M * rN 00 -! VO t^ CO OO VO r-> O LO lOiOuO ^000000t>l> 00 /3 O TfMOO O VOVOIO a ^ ; 4-> ! ^ ll c 1 i o g t i (K *O V X H Q W m nil --- fM CO >* iO VO t> 00 ON O rH cO * ic VO I> 00 O\ O 42 BULLETIN No. 155 [April, The yields of early melons in pounds per hill are given in Table 6. Only the "marketable" melons are considered. ut Z 8 M CMC (^ ro rH rHrHrHO rH OOrHeJO>OOO - ff) f<5 O rH *0 N O MrHCSrHrHrHM rH lOrOC^O'O VO Cl rHO OO .s & C-J -ij- rO t^ O O ON ON O\ 00 rH S-oo ^ 00 VO' i ^t aj ( i JH - -H a !s s rHP?rO'4'VOOI>OOONOrH FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS 43 This table indicates that, in the crop grown by the transplant- ing method (at Anna), the highest average yield of early mel- ons from treatments applied the last three years was secured from Plat 14, and the second highest from Plat 13, both heavily manured in the hill. The third highest average yield for the three years was from Plat n, manured in the hill and fertilized broadcast. Of the plats at Anna which were maintained thru the five years, Plat 9, treated with manure and steamed bone in the hill, gave the highest average yield of early melons, while Plat II gave the second highest, and Plat 7, manured in the hill, gave the third highest. In the field-planted crop (at Kinmundy) the highest average yield of early melons for the five years was from Plat 10; the second highest average yield from Plat 4, which was treated with manure both broadcast and in the hill; and the third highest average yield from Plat 14, heavily manured in the hill. However, the marked superiority of Plat 10 as shown in the five- year average is due to the exceptionally large yield from this plat in 1905. If the average for the last four years instead of the five is considered, Plats 13 and 14, both heavily manured in the hill, are first and second respectively, with Plat 4 occupying third place in reference to yields of early melons. TOTAL YIELDS OF MARKETABLE MELONS While it is important to secure as large a yield of early mel- ons as possible, the proportion of the crop w 7 hich ripens during the normal season of high prices is likely to be relatively small, so that the value of the crop may depend as much upon the total yield of marketable melons as upon the yield of early melons. Therefore the influence of the different fertilizer treatments upon the total yield of melons is an important factor to be considered in determining the relative values of the various treatments. For ease of comparison the yields are given in terms of pounds per hill. The number of hills participating in the yields were the same as for early melons, except at Kinmundy in 1905 and 1906, when certain belated hills, as already noted, were not considered in the yield of early melons. The total number of hills in the various plats at Kinmundy in 1905 and 1906 which participated in the total yields are given in Table 7. TABLE 7. NUMBER OK HILLS PARTICIPATING IN TOTAL YIELDS AT KINMUNDY, 1905 AND 1906 Plat 1905 1906 Plat 1905 1906 Plat 1905 1906 Plat 1905 1906 1 61 46 6 44 11 59 40 16 62 35 2 63 52 7 63 52 12 54 44 17 32 30 3 59 52 8 62 46 13 48 43 18 28 9 4 61 52 9 56 41 14 62 45 19 59 40 S 62 51 10 61 47 IS 57 44 20 61 39 44 BULLETIN No. 155 [Afril, The total yields of marketable melons produced under the different fertilizer treatments each year are given in Table 8. o s < s > ssssslg|sa /p/.?] FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS 45 This table shows that in the transplanted crop (at Anna) Plat 5, heavily manured broadcast, gave slightly the largest aver- age total yield of marketable melons for the three years; while Plat 4, manured broadcast and in the hill, gave the second largest yield; and Plat 14, heavily manured in the hill, gave the third largest yield. For the five-year average at Anna (applicable only to plats that were maintained the five years) the first, second and third average yields were from Plats 7, 12, and n respectively. In the field-planted crop (at Kinmundy) the highest average total yield of marketable melons for the five years was secured from Plat 4, manured broadcast and in the hill; the second highest average yield from Plat 10, which was treated with manure and rock phosphate in the hill; and the third highest average yield (practically the same as the second) from Plat II, which was manured in the hill and fertilized broadcast. If the averages for the last four years instead of five are considered, Plat 4 still shows the highest yield, with Plats 7 and 9 second and third re- spectively. YIELDS COMPUTED TO THE ACRE BASIS While a comparison of yields in terms of pounds per hill is the more accurate from an experimental standpoint, yields ex- pressed in terms of baskets per acre mean more to the melon grower. Furthermore, since the stand of plants was not equal in the various plats, and since in some cases at least the stand was influenced by the fertilizer treatment, a comparison of the actual yields from equal areas planted will be of interest. Since the plat's were not of the same size at Anna and Kinmundy, all yields have been calculated to the acre basis. This was done by multiplying the yield in pounds per plat by the number of plats in an acre, and dividing the product by the number of pounds of melons in a basket. The basket in question is the one-third bushel climax basket commonly used for shipping melons from Illinois points. The net weight of a basket of melons varies according to the thickness of flesh of the melons, the size of the specimens, and the solidity of the pack; but as a result of repeated weigh- ings in different seasons, sixteen pounds has been decided upon as the approximate average net weight of Gem melons per basket, and that figure has been used in calculating all the yields reported in this bulletin. The total yields of marketable melons, in terms of baskets per acre, are given in Table 9. 46 BULLETIN No. 155 [April, w M O < X M to &T o H O H ^ iHMfHCJNc^rici 00 cO- OO\OrOOOVC OtOOOOfHfH N rO if) ro fH to H 00 M O I fHOfHO 00 00 M I> * 00 3 111 !"J! 02 a Du 1912] FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS 47 By comparison with Table 8 it will be seen that, in spite of the differences in number of hills per plat, the average yields for the leading plats stand in very nearly the same relation to one another whether compared on the basis of baskets per acre or pounds per hill. VALUE OF THE CROP FROM DIFFERENT FERTILIZER TREATMENTS The value of a crop of melons is determined by the yield and the selling price. The latter is influenced chiefly by the supply upon the market, but also to some extent by the quality of the offerings. The latter influence becomes most evident in cases where an individual grower or an association packs in definite grades, and has the entire product handled thru one or a few distributing agents. Altho the price fluctuates more or less from day to day, un- der normal market conditions, as already noted, prices are high- est at the beginning of the shipping season covered by a given producing point. However, if the shipping seasons from two distinct producing regions overlap more than usual, the price re- ceived for the first shipments from the later locality may be abnormally low. Furthermore, if there is a distinct shortage of crop in an important melon producing region that normally sup- plies the market late in the season, the late shipments from an earlier locality may bring fully as high prices as the early ship- ments. Illustrations of both these conditions occured in 1908. The California crop held on later than usual, and was fully sup- plying the market when the early shipments from Anna were made. This resulted in the prices of early melons from Anna being lower than would otherwise have been the case ; but the later melons from Anna sold at the same average price as the early ones, because there was less competition on the market at the time they were shipped. The same year, the Rocky Ford crop was light, and the market therefore not very fully supplied at the time the late ship- ments from Kinmundy w r ere made. This resulted in a practically uniform price for Kinmundy melons thruout the entire shipping season from that point. The products of the experimental plats were marketed in Chi- cago along with the regular shipments of the growers on whose farms the experiments were conducted. Except at Anna in 1905, 48 BUL/LETIN NO. 155 [April, the two grades (No. i and No. 2) were packed separately, and there was invariably considerable difference in price between the two grades. This was due largely to the fact that the No. i stock was sold under guaranty as to quality. The approximate average selling prices of the melons of each grade from each place, both early and late, are given in Table 10. The unusually low price of the late melons from Kinmundy in 1909 was due to excessively hot, dry weather which caused the bulk of the melons to ripen within a few days at a time when the market was badly congested with heavy shipments of soft melons from a number of points. TABLE 10. SEIZING PRICE ov MELONS, PER BASKET ANNA KINMUNDY Early Ivate Early L/ate No. 1 No. 2 No. 1 .No. 2 No.l No. 2 No.l No. 2 1905 $ .60 .60 .50 .50 .60 $ .60 .40 .30 .30 .45 $ .35 .50 .40 .50 .50 $ .35 .30 .25 .30 .35 $ .50 .80 .50 .75 .75 $ .30 .60 .30 .45 .50 $ .50 .60 .40 .75 .25 $ .30 .35 .25 .45 .15 1906 1907 1908 1909 Average .57 .41 .45 .31 .66 .43 .50 .30 The cost of marketing the melons varied somewhat because of changes in freight rates and in the price of baskets. The cartage in Chicago was invariably two cents per basket and the commis- sion ten percent of the selling price. The total cost per basket of marketing the melons, including cost of the package, freight, cart- age and commission, was as given in Table n. TABLE 11 COST OF MARKETING MELONS, PER BASKET ANNA KINMUNDY Early L,ate Early L,ate No. 1 No. 2 No. 1 No. 2 No. 1 No. 2 No. 1 No. 2 1905 $ .17 .16^ .18 .17 .19 $ .17 .16 2 .15 .17* !i7 2 .17 .18 '.is4 .15 $ .16 !is 2 !is 2 $.14 .16^ .16 $ .16 '.17 2 !i3 2 $ .14 .14 !l2 1906 1907 1908 1909 Except for the commission, the cost of marketing a basket of melons shipped under the same conditions regarding freight rates 1912} FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS 49 is the same whether the melons sell for fifteen or seventy-five cents. Therefore, when the price of melons is low a large part of the selling price is consumed in paying the expenses of marketing. The average net proceeds per basket for the melons shipped from the experimental plats the different seasons were as follows : TABI.E 12 NET PRICES OF MELONS, PER BASKET ANNA KlNMUNDY Early L,ate Early Ivate No. 1 No. 2 No. 1 No. 2 No. 1 No. 2 No. 1 No. 2 1905 $ .43 .43^ .32 .33 .41 $.43 .25^ .14 .15 .27^ $.20^ .34^ .23 .33 .32 $.20% .16^ .09^ .15 .18K $ .34 .61# .32 .55^ .57 $.16 .43^ .14 .28^ .34^ $.34 .43^ .23 .55^ .12 $.16 .21 .09^ .28^ .03 1906 1907 1908 1909 Average . .385 .25 .286 .16 .48 .272 .336 .156 Based upon the net prices given in Table 12, the net proceeds per acre from the sale of melons from the various plats would be as indicated in Table 13. In arriving at these figures, the net proceeds from the No. I early, No. 2 early, No. I late and No. 2 late, melons were calculated separately and then combined. There- fore these figures represent the proceeds per acre from the melons, handled under the actual market conditions existing during the various seasons the experiments were in progress. By a comparison of Table 13 with Table 9 it will be seen that there is a fairly close relation between the net proceeds and the total yields, tho there are some variations due to differences in the proportions of early and late melons, and No. I and No. 2 stock. COST OF THE DIFFERENT FERTILIZER TREATMENTS During the progress of the experiments the prices of fertilizing materials varied to some extent, and the cost of fertilizers would necessarily be different at different points, due to differences in freight rates and in quantities purchased. For the experimental work here reported the materials \vere purchased in small quanti- ties, and hence the transportation rates were relatively high. A melon growers' association would ordinarily purchase fertilizing materials in carload lots. For the sake of uniformity, the fertiliz- ers have been rated at the same price per ton thruout the series of experiments, that price being approximately what the materials would have cost in wholesale quantities delivered on track in the melon producing regions of Illinois. Except at Kinmundy in 1905 and 1906, the manure used broad- cast as well as that used in the hills was quite thoroly rotted, and so BULLETIN No. 155 KINMUNDY rt i 4) u, j) ^ * 23&SKiS^:?^2 5?SSS?^ SS^S;P5SS2RS o*2??S8SS rt u o - - -j 10 rt SSSP85 P?S;^S {^^5:^52,1 or"TOoo ^j-r^io^foo >^ ci ^ o r * r-j rN 10 o ^-c K^SSorJa 0& 1 " 1 " I 3SK^3?RSRSP;S ?JS9^ai2sn? JSS5!S?5^^^?!ii 3KS~;Q'-3S?8 I oior rHO^^o^oro^t'^-'o vooo*oioor*~H ^^ ^ 1 ^-(--i/>OO^rpr200ir) ^-io-o s -^'-*Q or^-o *o 1 S|5! KK5 5 OOOMO^OOtSO ANNA V- , nj u oj ^ gj he t* ^" rt r-a v r-foio-(*-ioor^'OO 4 ro o^^-i-tior^rOsOrofOo^io m ^-( I s " ^O W) ^H O^ i-H O -O U) TT C^ Gsasssasaisg s " > rt A rt oorj rtn n sg 8 1 c^ i') ro r- oo oo t- oo r- o* r-t oo ro M <* oo <* i/^ o- *-> &> s S5SSSoJ!o^? too^SrSS? ^SSPSSSr55SS S82828S ee 1 ,OOf^fOt^-lOrOC>O^vOvDd U" w 00 1- 00 1- 00 f> i ro^uj^oo -< or~ooooo^f OB ^ ** 1 8 as^s'S Treatment : .- on ' ' '2 ilSl^lfiliit; IS 15 -a 2 2 '" ~ oo^caaaa igi2\ FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS 51 for the sake of uniformity, the manure has been rated at the same price per ton thruout, even tho rotted manure is worth more than fresh manure from the standpoint of the melon grower. At Kin- mundy the manure used by melon growers is usually hauled from the stables in town, while at Anna a large part of it is shipped in from St. Louis. The price at which the manure is rated in re- porting these experiments is based upon the cost under the condi- tions existing at Kinmundy, and refers to well-rotted manure that has been "turned" two or three times and made ready for use in melon hills. The cost at other points might be considerably dif- ferent. The lime used on Plat 12 was usually purchased as fresh stone lime and allowed to become air-slaked before being used. This made the lime treatment very expensive, but seemed to be the only method feasible under the conditions existing, for it was usually impossible to purchase air-slaked lime when wanted; and at the time the experiments were begun ground limestone was not avail- able at the points where the experiments were conducted. If ground limestone could have been used in place of the air-slaked lime, the expense of the treatment would have been much less than was actually the case. When lime has become air-slaked in the possession of a dealer, it is sometimes possible to purchase it at a comparatively reasonable figure. On the whole, it has been thought best to rate the air-slaked lime at $2.00 per ton rather than what it actually cost when purchased in the form of fresh lime. As already mentioned, equal volumes of manure per hill were used in the same plat each year, tho the weight of the manure varied considerably on account of differences in consistency and moisture content. The average weight of the manure per hill for the five years, on plats where one-fourth scoop-shovelful was used per hill, was 4.37 pounds at Anna, and 4.72 pounds at Kinmundy. This is at the rate of approximately 4.5 tons per acre at Anna, and six tons per acre at Kinmundy ; and these figures have been used in calculating the expense of manuring in the hills. Since, with the exception of the manure in the hills, the same weight of fertilizing material was applied per plat at both Anna and Kinmundy, the amounts used per acre were considerably dif- ferent on account of the difference in the size of the plats at the two places. Altho the melons at Anna in 1905 were planted slightly farther apart than in the other years, so that the amount of fertilizer used per acre was slightly less, it has been thought best to consider the expense for fertilizer per acre the same for each year. Also at both places in 1905 twice as much of the complete commercial fertilizer was used per plat as in the succeeding years ; but since the amount used that year was plainly excessive when 52 BULLETIN No. 155 [April, applied in the hills, the expense for this fertilizer treatment is based upon the quantities used the last four years of the experiment. In Table 14 are given the prices of the various fertilizing ma- terials per ton, the quantities used per acre at each place, and the cost of the material for an acre. TABLE 14. QUANTITIES AND COST OF FERTILIZER INGREDIENTS PER ACRE Price per ton ANNA KlNMUNDY Quantity Cost Quantity Cost Manure broadcast, Plats 1 to 4. . Manure broadcast, Plat 5 $ 1.50 1.50 1.50 25.00 7.50 25.00 4S.OO 50.00 2.00 8.4 tons 16.8 " 2.25 ' 4.5 " 9.0 " 537.75 Ib. 537.75 672.20 268.88 268.88 134.44 1680.5 $12.60 25.20 3.38 6.75 13.50 6.72 2.02 12.77 3.36 6.05 3.36 1.68 10 tons 20 " 3 " 6 " 12 ' 640 Ib. 640 800 320 320 160 2000 $15.00 30.00 4.50 9.00 18.00 8.00 2.40 15.20 4.00 7.20 4.00 2.00 Manure in hills, l /& scoop- shovel- ful per hill Manure in hills, % scoop- shovel- Manure in hills, Yt. scoop- shovel f ul per hill Steamed bone Rock phosphate Complete fertilizer Steamed bone Dried blood Potassium sulfate L/ime (air-slaked) Based upon the prices and quantities given in Table 14, the total cost of materials for the different fertilizer treatments would be as indicated in Table 15. TABLE 15 COST PER ACRE FOR THE DIFFERENT FERTILIZER TREATMENTS Plat Treatment Cost Anna Kinmundy 1 $12 60 $15 00 2 Manure and steamed bone broadcast 19.30 23.00 3 Manure and rock phosphate broadcast 14.62 17.40 4 Manure broadcast and in the hill 19.35 24 00 5 Manure broadcast (double amount) 25 20 30 00 6 /^ shovel manure in hills 3.38 4 50 7 % shovel manure in hills, not mixed 6.75 9.00 8 * shovel manure in hills, mixed ." 6.75 9.00 9 Manure and steamed bone in hills 13.47 17.00 10 Manure and rock phosphate in hills 8.77 11.40 11 12 Manure in hills, complete fertilizer broadcast Manure in hills, complete fertilizer and lime 19.52 21.20 24.20 26.20 13 %i shovel manure in hills not mixed 13.50 18.00 14 ^ shovel manure in hills mixed 13.50 18.00 15 Check. No fertilizer or manure 16 Steamed bone in hills 6.72 8.00 17 12.77 15.20 18 12.77 15.20 19 Manure in hills steamed bone broadcast 13.47 17.00 20 Manure in hills rock phosphate broadcast 8.77 11.40 1912} FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS 53 CO O O o-i-.-ipr--r--- oo oo i-i o- oj ^ IH o 1-1 o oo.-ior*)r- I in oo ^ oo r- ^H o T ^0 ro i~ c^ r* m T*- ro in \oi/*fO*co t Tt-^o -^J- inroc^r-io^o^^i- loco ->mo OOM o o- oo ooo-* rj?o^ o a oo oo *o -o ro r^ in <* o o* 10 1* r? ^*- in ^ ^^ soinro-ic i oofo^'t^ oo ^oooinoow rt ^-i ,-ifsr-i Mrr n rr t-iM^ r-i ^"^"^77 __ p Hinoo oo eg ^ ooinoin p oo oo^tO'O-* * r* CM r* M s : :- ^ 55 . N - O^-ES I 111 ili eS"*S-" ^i Cfirt r-S- ' ' S 0] 01 K ^ 1 |Sg r 23|a H o-o-oo^^^-o-O'5''"2'SS'* < "^SS2SS f 54 BULLETIN No. 155 In order to make a fair comparison of the different fertilizer treatments, the cost of the fertilizers must be deducted from the net proceeds from sale of melons. The net proceeds per acre, for each treatment, minus the cost of the fertilizer, are given in Table 16. It will be seen that the relation of the plats to one another is somewhat different from that shown in Table 13, where merely the proceeds from the sale of melons were considered, without regard to the cost of the fertilizer. Owing to the small cost of the fertil- izer used in Plat 6, this plat stands out distinctly ahead of all oth- ers in reference to average net proceeds after deducting the cost of the fertilizer, for the three years it was included in the tests at Anna, and the four years it was included at Kinmundy. Of the treatments which were included in the tests the full five years at Anna, that used in Plat 7 (a normal amount of manure, not mixed with the soil of the hill) gave the highest average returns after paying for the fertilizer. Plats n, 8 and 9 were very nearly alike, and followed Plat 7 in the order mentioned. In the field-planted crop (at Kinmundy) the highest average for the five years was shown by Plat 10, treated with manure and rock phosphate in the hills. Plats 4, ii and 7 showed a variation of less than one dollar per acre in average net proceeds after deducting cost of fertilizer, and followed Plat 10 in the order named. DISCUSSION OF THE RESULTS A careful analysis of Tables 6, 8 and 16 will reveal the relative influence of the various factors involved in the different fertilizer treatments. AND Eight different treatments involving the use of manure alone were tested. These included the use of two different quantities broadcast, three different quantities in the hill without mixing with the soil, two quantities thoroly mixed with the soil of the hill, and one treatment in which the manure was used both broad- cast and in the hill. INFLUENCE ON YIELD OE EARLY MELONS A study of Table 6, giving the yields of early melons from the different treatments, shows that of the various treatments in which K)i2~\ FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELU.NS 55 manure was used alone, Plat i, to which a small quantity of manure was applied broadcast, gave almost uniformly the lowest yields of early melons, the average yields being only about one- fourth as great as those from some of the plats manured in the hill. Doubling the quantity of manure applied broadcast usually increased the yield of early melons, and was especially noticeable at Anna in 1908 and 1909, and at Kinmundy in 1907. In the transplanted crop (at Anna) the heavy broadcast manuring gave larger average yields than a small quantity of manure applied to the hills, but smaller average yields than heavy manuring in the hill. Manuring in the hill usually gave the field-planted crop (at Kinmundy) a more vigorous start than manuring broadcast, and thus promoted the development of an early" crop ; so that the aver- age yield of early melons was approximately twice as great from the plats manured in the hills as from the heavy broadcast ma- nuring. In applying manure to the hills, mixing the manure with the soil of the hill failed to increase the yield of early melons five times out of eight at Anna, and seven times out of ten at Kin- mnndy. In three cases, however, there was a very large increase in early yield, apparently due to the mixing, so that the average early yields appear more strongly in favor of mixing than the facts really warrant. In a majority of cases the yield of early melons was greater where the manure was not mixed with the soil, but placed in the bottom of the furrow and covered with soil in which the plants were set or the seeds planted. The application of different quantities of manure to the hills gave varying results as to yield of early melons. Two years of the three at Anna, y& scoop-shovelful of manure per hill gave a larger yield of early melons than % scoop-shovelful per hill sim- ilarly applied, and one year the yield was larger from ^ scoop- shovelful than from J4 scoop-shovelful. At Kinmundy the yield was larger from % scoop-shovelful than from J4 scoop-shove ful, similarly applied, two years out of four, and one year it was larger than that from */> scoop- shovel ful. This was in a - dry year (1906) when the large mass of manure seemed to cut off capillary action and retard the growth of the vines. All three years at Anna and three years of the five at Kinmundy the average yield of early mel- ons from the two plats treated with ^2 scoop-shovelful of manure per hill was greater than the average yield from the two treated with y\ scoop-shovelful per hill. The failure of the larger quan- tity of manure to produce as good results as the smaller quantity at Kinmundy the other two years was probably due at least par- tially to the fact that the manure or mixture of manure and soil was not covered to a sufficient depth with the soil in which the 56 BULLETIN No. 155 [April, seeds were planted. On the whole, a large quantity of manure per hill, carefully applied, seems to be more conducive to the pro- duction of early melons than a small quantity. When manure was applied broadcast in addition to that used in the hills, the yield of early melons was reduced two years of the three at Anna, and three years of the five at Kinmundy. How- ever, the reduction at Kinmundy two of the years was very slight, and the large increase in yield under this treatment the other two years makes the five-year average for the field-planted crop de- cidedly in favor of the treatment involving the use of manure broadcast in addition to that used in the hills. INFLUENCE ON TOTAL YIELDS When total yields of marketable melons for the entire season are considered, it will be seen by reference to Table 8 that again Plat i, which received a light application of manure broadcast, shows the smallest average yield of all the plats treated with manure alone, and that in several cases its yield was far below that of the other manured plats. Except at Kinmundy in 1909, doub- ling the quantity of manure applied broadcast markedly increased the total yield. In the transplanted crop (at Anna) the heavy application of manure broadcast invariably produced a larger total crop than did a small or moderate amount of manure applied to the hills. In the field-planted crop (at Kinmundy) the results were more variable, the plat heavily manured broadcast producing larger yields two years of the five than the plats moderately manured in the hill, and one of these years a larger yield also than the plat lightly ma- nured in the hill. The other three years' larger yields were secured by manuring lightly or moderately in the hill than by heavy ma- nuring broadcast. Where very heavy manuring in the hill was practiced, the total yields were larger at Anna two years of the three than where heavy broadcast manuring was practiced, tho the average for the three years is in favor of the heavy broadcast manuring because of the extremely high yield one year. At Kin- mundy the yield was larger two years of the five, and the average yield for the five years shows a slight advantage in favor of the heavy manuring in the hill. Where a moderate amount C*4 scoop-shovelful) of manure was applied per hill, better total yields were secured four years of the five at each place, from the plat in which the manure was not mixed with the soil of the hill. The other year at Anna the yields were identical, and at Kinmundy the difference was very slightly in favor of the mixing. It is true that in some other cases the 1912] FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS \VITH MUSKMELONS 57 differences were slight, but the average for the five years shows at both places a substantial advantage in favor of not mixing. Where a larger quantity ( l / 2 scoop-shovelful) of manure was used per hill, there was apparently an advantage in favor of mix- ing, in the case of the transplanted crop two years of the three. In the field-planted crop, however, mixing the manure with the soil of the hill resulted in an increase in the crop only one year of the five, and the average for the five years was slightly in favor of not mixing. One-eighth scoop-shovelful of manure gave at Anna practically the same yields as l /4 scoop-shovelful two years of the three, and the other year gave a much larger yield. At Kinmundy the smaller quantity of manure gave the larger yield two years of the four. However, the average yield at Kinmundy was in favor of the *4 scoop-shovelful per hill ; while at Anna, the reverse was true, on account of the extremely large yield from the l /& scoop-shovelful per hill in 1908. One-half scoop-shovelful of manure per hill, as compared with l /4 scoop-shovelful per hill, gave larger yields at Anna two years of the three, and at Kinmundy only two years of the five, if the average yield for the two plats receiving the same amount of ma- nure is in each case considered. The five-year average at Kin- mundy shows the yield to be higher from the J4 scoop-shovelful of manure per hill than from the T / 2 scoop-shovelful. Comparing plats where the manure was similarly applied (without mixing),, the average yield for the four years was highest from the */ scoop- shovelful of manure, next from the y 2 scoop-shovelful, and lowest from the l /& scoop-shovelful. At Anna the % scoop-shovelful of manure per hill gave a higher average yield for the three years than any other quantity of manure in the hill applied in the same manner (7. e., without mixing). This apparent superiority of the small quantity of manure is due to the excessive yield from that plat in 1908, and may be misleading. In the transplanted crop the use of a large amount of manure mixed with the soil of the hill gave larger average yields than any other method of manuring in the hill alone, while in the field- planted crop a moderate amount of manure not mixed gave the best average total yields. The use of a small quantity of manure broadcast in addition to a moderate amount in the hills, made a marked increase in the total yield at Anna two years of the three and gave practically the same yield the other year; at Kinmundy there was a marked in- crease two years of the five, a slight increase another year, and a small decrease in yield the other two years. The five-year aver- age at Kinmundy shows the highest yield to be from this method 58 BULLETIN No. 155 [April, of manuring as compared with all others, and the three-year aver- age at Anna is but .03 pound per hill below the highest yield, that from the use of a large amount of manure broadcast. NET PROCEEDS Altho the use of larger quantities of manure gave, in many cases, higher average yields, the cost of a small application to the hills alone was so much smaller than that of a large quantity applied to the hills or broadcast, or both, that the average net pro- ceeds from the sale of melons minus the cost of the fertilizing ma- terial, was greater for the small quantity of manure (% scoop- shovelful per hill) applied to the hills than for any other treat- ment for the three years this treatment was tested at Anna and the four years it was tested at Kinmundy. (See Table 16.) INFLUENCE OF THE ADDITION OF PHOSPHORUS TO THE MANURE The soil at both Anna and Kinmundy is rather deficient in phosphorus. The two leading forms in which this element is used as a fertilizer in Illinois are steamed bone meal and finely ground raw rock phosphate. Each of these materials was applied in the hill with the manure in the hill five years at each place, and broadcast with manure broadcast three years at Anna and five years at Kinmundy. Each material was also used broadcast in conjunction with manure in the hill three years at each place. In all cases the amount of manure used per hill was J4 scoop-shovelful and the amount applied broadcast 500 pounds per plat the same quantity as that used alone on Plat i. INELUE.NCE ON EARLY YIELDS The use of steamed bone and of rock phosphate in combination with manure broadcast increased the yield of early melons all three years at Anna and two years of the five at Kinmundy. The five- year average at Kinmundy was also increased. At both places the average yield of early melons was greater for the steamed bone than for the rock phosphate when both were used broadcast with manure broadcast. However, the yields of early melons from all three of these treatments were comparatively low. When applied to the hills, mixed with the manure of the hill, the steamed bone gave increased early yields four times at Anna and twice at Kinmundy. The five-year average at Anna shows a decided advantage in favor of the use of bone, largely on account FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS 59 of the greatly increased yield in 1905. At Kinmundy the five-year average shows no difference in the early yields whether steamed bone was used with the manure in the hills or an equal quantity of manure used alone and applied in a similar manner.* When rock phosphate was used in combination with manure in the hills, it increased the yield two of the five years at Anna and four years at Kinmundy. Two of the other years at Anna the plat receiving this treatment (Plat 10) was at a disadvantage, being shaded by a belt of timber in 1906 and severely attacked by lice in 1907. In spite of the disadvantage these two years, the average yield of early melons for the five years at Anna was only slightly less where the rock phosphate was used with the manure in -the hills than where manure was used alone and applied in a similar manner. At Kinmundy, where the test was on a fairer basis, the five-year average shows a marked increase in yield of early melons, evidently due to the use of the rock phosphate with the manure in the hills. The use of steamed bone broadcast in conjunction with ma- nure in the hills increased the yield of early melons one year at Anna and two years at Kinmundy in three years' testing; and for the three-year average gave an increase at Anna but a decrease at Kinmundy. Rock phosphate broadcast in conjunction with ma- nure in the hills gave an increase two years at Anna and one year at Kinmundy; and the three-year average showed an increase at Anna but not at Kinmundy. INFLUENCE ON TOTAL YIELDS The addition of steamed bone to the manure broadcast in- creased the total yield two years of 'the three at Anna and four years of the five at Kinmundy. The other year the yields from the two plats \vere the same at Anna and practically the same at Kin- mundy, so that the average for the series of years was plainly in- creased by the addition of the steamed bone. The addition of the rock phosphate to the manure broadcast increased the yield every year at Anna but only two years at Kinmundy, and the five-year average at Kinmundy was practically the same as where the ma- nure was used alone. The addition of steamed bone to the manure in the hills in- creased the yield at Anna three years of five but at Kinmundv only *As already explained, the steamed bone and manure or rock phosphate and manure used in Plats 9 and 10 were thoroly mixed with the soil in making the hills at Anna, but were left unmixed at Kinmundy. Hence, in determining the effect of the steamed bone or rock phosphate, the yields from these plats at Anna are compared with Plat 8 ("manure in hills, mixed"), and at Kin- mundy with Plat 7 ("manure in hills, not m\xed"). 60 BULLETIN No. 155 [April, one year. The five-year average showed an increase at Anna but a decrease at Kinmundy. Rock phosphate used with the manure in the hills increased the crop two years at Anna and three years at Kinmundy. The five-year average at Anna shows a smaller crop where the rock phosphate was used than where the manure was used alone; but this is due to the very low yields from the rock phosphate plat in 1906 and 1907, occasioned by the circum- stances already mentioned. The five-year average at Kinmundy shows an advantage in favor of the use of rock phosphate in con- junction with the manure in the hills. The use of steamed bone broadcast in conjunction with ma- nure in the hills increased the total yield all three years at Anna but only one of the three years at Kinmundy. Rock phosphate in conjunction with manure in the hills likewise increased the yield every year at Anna but only one year at Kinmundy. NET PROFITS The use of steamed bone and of rock phosphate with the ma- nure broadcast increased the average net profits after deducting the cos.t of the materials, as well as increasing the average yield as compared with that from the use of manure broadcast alone. The rock phosphate gave the greater average profit at Anna, but the steamed bone at Kinmundy. When applied to the hills along with manure in the hills, neither the steamed bone nor the rock phosphate increased the average net profits at Anna, altho the bone increased the average yield per hill, for the cost of the mate- rial exceeded the difference in the value of the crop. At Kin- mundy the use of rock phosphate in the hills in addition to manure resulted in a slight increase* in the net profits based on the five- year average. The use of steamed bone in the hills was not profit- able because it failed to increase the average yield, and added to the expense of producing the crop. INFLUENCE OF A COMPLETE FERTILIZER IN ADDI- TION TO MANURE The complete fertilizer used in these experiments v/as a home- mixed material consisting of two parts steamed bone, two parts dried blood, and one part potassium snlfate. The use of this ma- terial broadcast in addition to manure in the hills increased the yield of early melons three years at Anna and two years at Kin- mundy, and gave for the five-year average an increased yield at Anna but identical yields at Kinmundy. In total yields, however, the five-year average shows at both places an advantage in favor i<)i2\ FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS 61 of the plat receiving the fertilizer in addition to the manure. The average net proceeds, after deducting the cost of the fertilizing ma- terials, were also slightly greater at both places from the plats to which the fertilizer was applied in addition to the manure, than from those in which the manure was used alone. The application of lime broadcast in addition to the fertilizer and manure increased the yields of early melons two years of the five at Anna and only one year at Kinmundy. For the five-year average this treatment gave a lower yield of early melons at both, places than the manure and fertilizer without the lime; and at Kinmundy a smaller yield than the manure used alone. However, the total yields for the entire season were increased three years of the five at Anna by the addition of the lime. The five-year average also shows an advantage in favor of the addition of the lime. At Kinmundy, however, the total yield was usually less from the plat receiving the lime in addition to the manure and fertilizer than from those receiving the manure and fertilizer or the manure alone. Altho there was a slight increase in the average total yield per hill at Anna, apparently due to the use of the lime, the average net proceeds after deducting the cost of the fertilizer were less than from the plat receiving identical treatment except for the omission of the lime. At Kinmundy the average profits were very much less from the limed than from the corresponding unlimed plat. Under the conditions of these experiments, therefore, there seemed to be no advantage derived from the use of lime on the melon crop. ATTEMPTS TO GROW MELONS WITHOUT MANURE On account of the difficulty of obtaining manure in some places, the substitution of commercial fertilizer for manure in the produc- tion of melons has been suggested. The tests reported in this publication show that steamed bone applied to the hills gave fairly good results, tho the average yield of both early melons and total crop was less at both places than from the use of a moderate amount of manure in the Kills. The vines usually made a good growth early in the season, but the leaves often turned brown at the edges before the crop matured. This was especially noticeable in the field-planted crop (at Kinmundy). The yield as compared with the crop manured in the hill was better at Anna than at Kin- mundy, indicating that this method of fertilizing is better adapted to a transplanted than to a field-planted crop. The average net profits for the crop after deducting the cost of the fertilizer were very much less at both places from the use of steamed bone than from the use of a moderate amount of manure in the hills. When a complete fertilizer of the same composition as that used broadcast in Plats n and 12 was used in the hills in place of 62 BULLETIN No. 155 [April, manure, the yields were greatly reduced as compared with those from the use of manure alone. This was especially marked in the field-planted crop (at Kinmundy), where many plants were killed outright by the fertilizer and the maturing of the melons was greatly delayed on those that remained. The results were similar whether the fertilizer was thoroly mixed with the soil or placed in the bot- tom of the furrow and covered to a considerable depth, tho some- what worse where the mixing was done. In the latter case the average proceeds from the melons were less than the cost of the fertilizer, showing that this method of fertilizing is utterly un- adapted to a field-planted crop under the conditions of these ex- periments. With the transplanted crop (at Anna) the results were much better, tho the average yields were considerably less than from the use of steamed bone alone, while the cost of the fertilizer was much greater, thus making a marked difference in the net profits in favor of the bone. Both treatments, however, were much less profitable than the use of manure. The yields from the check plat, to which no manure or fertil- izer was applied for the melon crop, show that under the conditions of the experiments here reported this method of growing melons was decidedly unsatisfactory in point of yields and profits. The delay in maturing of the crop due to the lack of plant food was a feature especially worthy of notice in the field-planted crop. Three FIG. 4. MELONS MANURED IN THE HILL. PLATS 6 AND 7, KINMUNDY, SEPT. 6, 1907. /$>/.?] FERTILIZER EXPERIMENTS WITH MUSKMELONS 63 FIG. 5. MELONS TREATED WITH A COMPLETE COMMERCIAL FERTI- LIZER IN THE HILL. PLATS 17 AND 18, KINMUNDY, SEPT. 6, 1907. years of the five at Kinmuridy there were no "early melons" what- ever produced on the untreated plat. The total yields, also, were usually deficient. Even in 1908 and 1909, when the melons were planted as the first crop on newly cleared timber land, the check plat produced an insignificant yield as compared with the manured plats. In the transplanted crop (at Anna) the untreated plat made a better showing than the field-planted crop (at Kinmundy), but in early melons, total yield, and net profits, the crop was far inferior to that on plats manured in the hill. CONCLUSIONS The results of the experiments reported in this publication in- dicate that there may be wide differences in the relative effects of different fertilizer treatments for Gem melons in different seasons. Yet, in spite of this finding, the results show plainly (i) that under the conditions of these experiments manuring in the hill is far su- perior to broadcast manuring, unless a very large amount of ma- nure can be used; (2) that a large amount of manure used in the hills is conducive to the production of a large yield of early melons, but (3) that a small amount of manure (2.25 to 3 tons per acre) carefully applied to the hills may produce a greater net profit than a larger amount (4.5 to 12 tons per acre) applied in a similar man- ner, or a still larger amount ( 16 to 20 tons per acre) applied broad- 64 BULLETIN No. 155 [April, 1912 cast, even tho the yields may be somewhat smaller; (4) that altho the highest average yield in the field-planted crop and the second highest in the transplanted crop were produced by the plats receiv- ing manure both broadcast and in the hills, the expense of so much manure may so reduce the profits that they will be less than from some other treatment; (5) that mixing the manure with the soil of the hill, altho it increases the labor of planting the crop, has no apparent advantage over applying the same amount of manure without mixing, except possibly in the case of a large amount of manure applied to the transplanted crop; (6) that the addition of raw rock phosphate to a moderate amount of manure in the hills may increase the yield of early melons, the total yield and the net profits, in the field-planted crop; (7) that the use o'f a complete fertilizer (consisting of steamed bone, dried blood and potassium sulfate) applied broadcast in addition to manuring in the hill, is conducive to the production of large total yields, but that the high cost of this fertilizer may render its use inadvisable; (8) that the application of this same fertilizer to the hills in lieu of manure is attended with great danger, especially to the field-planted crop, and may greatly reduce the yield as compared with no fertilizer treat- ment; (9) that a fair crop of melons may sometimes be produced by the use of steamed bone alone in the hills, tho the results are less satisfactory than from the use of manure, especially for the field- planted crop; and (10) that on the type of soil and with the cul- tural methods used for the field-planted crop in these experiments, it is unwise to attempt to produce a crop of melons without the ap- plication of plant food. ' FIG. 6. PARTIAL VIEW OF EXPERIMENTAL MELON PLANTATION, ANNA, ILLINOIS, JULY 23, 1908. * "&"<*. '* " L UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA Q 630.7IL6B C001 BULLETIN. URBANA 153-1651912-13 30112019528428 '