A course in soilless gardening

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A COURSE IE SOILLESS CARrENINC

A P r o je c t P r e s e n te d to th e f a c i l i t y o f th e S ch ool o f E d u c a tio n !Ehe U n iv e r s it y o f Southern C a lif o r n ia

In P a r t i a l f u l f i l l m e n t o f th e R equirem ents fo r th e D egree M aster o f S c ie n c e i n E d u ca tio n

hy J o e l E. Winans June 1950

UMI Number: EP46147

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Di&seirtaiion Publishing

UMI EP46147 Published by ProQuest LLC (2014). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author. Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC. All rights reserved. This work is protected against unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code

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UUIS-'S

.

T hi s p r o je c t repo rt, w rit ten un der the direction of the candidate’s a dv is e r a n d a p p r o v e d by him, has been p r es e n te d to an d a c c e p te d by the F acu lty of the S c h o o l of E d u c a ti o n in p a r ti a l fulfi llm ent of the requirements f o r the d eg ree of M a s t e r of Science in Education.

Date.

................0

Adviser

Dean

UNI VERS I TY O F S O U T H E R N C AL I F OR NI A U N IV ER SITY PARK LOS ANGELES 7

March 2 1 9 5 0

To whom i t may concern: T his i s t o c e r t i f y th a t perm ission has been g iv en to Mr* J o el E* fin a n s t o p resen t t h i s p r o je c t in e l i t e ty p in g .

G* C. Crawford P ro fesso r o f Education

ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAPTERS PREFACE TO TEACHERS? : P u rp o ses o f t h i s c o u rse o u t l i n e ♦ . . .

iii

PREFACE TO STUDENTS! : G ettin g acquainted w ith s o i l l e s s gardening • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •

v lil

PART I . STARTING SOMETHING HOW TO SET UP A SIMPLIFIED PROJECT 1*

SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES?

How to s t a r t w ith r e a d ily a v a ila b le

s u p p lie s • . .................................... 2*

SOLUTIONS!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

How t o f e e d your p la n ts . • • • . . • • • • • • • •

2 11

PART I i i DEVELOPING YOUR METHOD HOW TO GROW PLANTS IN SAND, GRAVEL, AND WATER CULTURE 5*

SAND CULTURE:: How to grow p la n ts in w a ter-h o ld in g s o lid p a r t ic le s . • . • . . • • • • . . . • • • • • • * • • . * • • •

4*

GRAVEL CULTURE?: How t o grow p la n ts i n coarse p a r t ic le s • * . •

5*

WATER CULTURE?

How to grow p la n ts suspended over s o lu tio n s • •

25

4l

PART I I I . SKILLFUL MANAGEMENT HOW TO OPERATE YOUR SOILLESS GARDEN EFFICIENTLY" 6.

PLANT DIAGNOSIS? : How t o c o rrect "unhappy* p la n ts • • • • • • •

7*

SOLUTION CONTROL!: How to an alyze and a d ju st th e n u tr ie n t

49

s o lu tio n • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 5 9 8#

COMMERCIAL OPERATION!: How t o u n d e rta k e l a r g e - s c a l e c h e m ic u ltu re fo r p ro fit • • • • • • • • • .

9#

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT?

................... . . . . . . . . . . . .

75

How t o produce e x c e p tio n a l q u a l i t y i n

v e g e ta b le s • ........................... ■ . • • • • • • • • » • • • • •

• • • • 8 5

iii

CHAPTER 10*

PIONEERING*

How t o c o n tr ib u te to th e p r o g re s s o f s o i l l e s s

g a rd e n in g • . ................................................................................... . . . . . .

91

LIST OP 16 M l. MOTION PICTURE FILMS . . . . . . . . . . . . .

101

RESERVE SHELF LIST OF BOOKS...............................

105

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

ADDITIONAL BOOKS AND PAMPHLETS . . . . . . . .

104

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

MAGAZINE ARTICLES

105

SOURCES USEFUL FOR ORIENTATION

........................... ..........................

.

110

iy.

LIST OF FIGURES FIGURE X*

ARRANGEMENT OF SAND IN JAR OR CAN......................

2*

ARRANGEMENT OF SERIES OF JARS . . . . . . ..........................

4.

. . .

5 7

BUCRET-AND-BOX UNIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

57

EFFECTS OF SUPPLYING TRACE ELEMENTS IN DEFICIENT SOIL . . . . .

$6

V

LIST OF TABLES TABLE I. II. III.

SUPPLYING

THE MINOR ELEMENTS...........................................

SUPPLYINGTHE MAJOR ELEMENTS . . . . .......................

14-15

SOURCES, FUNCTIONS, AND PRACTICAL FACTS ABOUT PLANT ELEMENTS, LIGHT AND TEMPERATURE

.................................................................50-51

▼i PREFACE TO TEACHERS PURPOSES OF THIS COURSE OUTLIHE T h is p r o j e c t i s an e x p e rim en ta l s y lla b u s fo r a cou rse in s o i l l e s s gardening* o th e r w ise termed hyd rop onics* s o lu t io n c u lt u r e , c h e m ic a ltu r e , n u t r ic u lt u r e , and so on.

Hie e s s e n t i a l fe a tu r e o f the v a r io u s sy stem s

i s the s u p p ly in g o f the r o o t s o f p la n t s w ith ch em ica l s o lu t io n s con­ t a in in g the 11 o r 12 e le m e n ts known to he e s s e n t i a l fo r p la n t grow th. S o i l l e s s c u ltu r e o f p la n t s h a s lo n g been p r a c t ic e d a s a s c i e n t i f i c te ch n iq u e fo r s tu d y in g p la n t n u t r i t i o n under c o n t r o lle d c o n d itio n s * and was d e v e lo p e d in the l a t e 1 9 2 0 f s in t o an e c o n o m ic a lly f e a s i b l e means o f flo w e r and v e g e t a b le p r o d u c tio n .

Thus i t can be p r a c t ic e d a s an i n t e r ­

e s t i n g hobby and a ls o a s a ,r e a s o n a b ly s u c c e s s f u l p r a c t i c a l o c c u p a tio n . At p r e s e n t , i t sh o u ld n o t be c o n s id e r e d a s a s u b s t i t u t e f o r a g r ic u lt u r e , b u t r a th e r a s a s u it a b le a l t e r n a t i v e where c o n d it io n s o f lim it e d space o r poor s o i l make i t a d v is a b le .

I t s g r e a t e s t com m ercial a p p lic a t io n

h a s been in greenh ouse p r o d u c tio n o f flo w e r s and o f f - s e a s o n v e g e t a b le s . D uring the l a s t war th e Army A ir F o rces Q uarterm aster Corps produced la r g e q u a n t i t i e s o f v e g e t a b le s by ch em ica l g a rd en in g in I s o la t e d b arren is la n d s o f the A t la n t ic and P a c i f i c , and in Japan, where s o il-g r o w n v e g e t a b le s were n o t s u it e d f o r u s e b eca u se o f danger o f d is e a s e con­ ta m in a tio n . Some o f th e main o b s t a c le s to the u s e o f s o i l l e s s g a rd en in g in home p r o d u c tio n a re d e s c r ib e d in Chapter 1 0 .

On the fa v o r a b le s id e

i s the f a c t th a t the c o s t o f c h e m ic a ls i s p o t e n t i a l l y a minor item , and t h a t th e la b o r in v o lv e d i s l e s s than in s o i l g a rd en in g .

With the

overcom in g o f problem s o f ( a ) o b t a in in g r e a so n a b ly p r ic e d c h e m ic a ls

vii in r e t a i l q u a n t it ie s , (b ) o b t a in in g cheaper hom e-type equipm ent, and ( c ) d e v e lo p in g e f f i c i e n t te c h n iq u e s o f home p r o d u c tio n , th e u se o f s o i l l e s s ga rd en in g a s a p r a c t i c a l p r o d u c tiv e home a c t i v i t y c o u ld be e x p e c te d to in c r e a s e c o n s id e r a b ly . As a cla ssro o m c o u r se , s o i l l e s s g a rd en in g c o u ld perhaps b e s t be I n te g r a te d in t o a g e n e r a l s c ie n c e co u rse; i t c o u ld a l s o p erh ap s f i t in t o c o u r s e s in c h e m istr y , b io l o g y , b otan y, and a g r ic u lt u r e .

I t would

seem to be a p r o m isin g c o u r se in th e a d u lt e d u c a tio n f i e l d . The /p ro ced u re fo llo w e d in p r e p a r in g t h i s c o u rse o u t lin e was to su rv ey th e a v a ila b le books on s o i l l e s s g a rd en in g , to g e th e r w ith most m agazine a r t i c l e s s in c e 19 4 0 , and to s e l e c t , a d a p t, o r g a n is e , and p r e s e n t the m ost s u it a b le m a t e r ia ls In a s e r i e s o f te n c h a p te r , p r e ­ ced ed by a P r e fa c e to S tu d e n ts.

Bach ch a p ter c o n s i s t s o f f i v e s e c t i o n s ,

b e g in n in g w ith an in tr o d u c to r y m o tiv a tin g and o r ie n t in g s e c t io n , then p r o c e e d in g to the main body o f th e p r e s e n t a tio n o r e x p o s i t io n .

T his

i s fo llo w e d by s u g g e ste d a ssig n m e n ts , s p l i t in t o more im m ediate, e x ­ p lo r a t o r y p r o j e c t s , and more rem ote, p r a c t i c a l , v o c a t io n a l, o r " ta r g e t1* p r o je c ts.

Sample e v a lu a tio n p r o c ed u r es a r e g iv e n , and f i n a l l y ,

sou rce

m a t e r ia ls fo r each c h a p te r . T h is co u rse o u t lin e d o e s n o t assume f a m i l i a r i t y w ith c h e m istr y , p h y s ic s , b io lo g y , o r h i^ i s c h o o l m ath em atics, b u t in tr o d u c e s some p r o c e d u r e s r e la t e d to th e s e s u b j e c t s a t v a r io u s a p p r o p r ia te p o in t s th rou gh ou t the c o u r se .

The w ise te a c h e r w i l l adapt the m a t e r ia ls to

the i n t e r e s t and m a tu r ity o f the s tu d e n ts . I t would seem a d v is a b le th a t a te a c h e r tinder ta k in g to te a c h t h i s c o u r se sh o u ld have exp erim en ted w ith s o i l l e s s ga rd en in g in h i s own back

▼iii y a r d w ith some d eg ree o f s u c c e s s , and 'be f a m ilia r w ith th e common c a u s e s o f f a i l u r e and w ith s h o r t c u t s and e f f i c i e n t methods*

Some a t t e n t i o n

and p la n n in g w i l l have to he g iv e n to th e problem o f th e ca re o f th e s o i l l e s s ga rd en in g p r o j e c t s betw een c l a s s m e e tin g s .

Such d u t ie s m i^xt

be r o t a t e d among the c l a s s members, o r perform ed by a la b o r a to r y a s s i s t ­ a n t o r by th e in s tr u c to r * Whether th e tim e h a s come when many p e o p le can ca rry on s o i l l e s s g a rd en in g in t h e i r back y a r d s may be an open q u e s t io n .

I t seem s prob­

a b le , how ever, t h a t th er e a r e no perm anent o b s t a c le s i n t h i s d i r e c t i o n , and i t may be a m a tter o f o n ly a few y e a r s u n t i l t h i s becomes p o s s ib le * S p essa rd * s r e c e n t l i t t l e book, 11The Tanks a r e Coming”, c i t e d in th e He se r v e S h e lf B ooks, would seem to c o n tr ib u te much to t h i s aim*

ix PKEFACE TO STOXENOT GETTIHG U X P A X m B D WITS SOILLESS GAR33ENIHG To many p e o p le , s o i l l e s s g a r d e n in g i s a new and s tr a n g e , a lm o st m a g ic a l, method o f grow ing p la n t s *

In r e a l i t y , th e r e i s v e r y l i t t l e

t h a t i s new ab ou t i t , and i t is* a p e r f e c t l y n a t u r a l, a lth o u g h a r t i ­ f i c i a l l y c o n t r o lle d p r o c e s s .

For many y e a r s s c i e n t i s t s have s tu d ie d

th e r e s u l t s o f ch an gin g th e amounts o f ch em ical fo o d e le m e n ts s u p p lie d to p la n ts *

In o rd er to do t h i s a c c u r a t e ly , th ey have had to a v o id

u s in g s o il*

f o r v e r y good s c i e n t i f i c r e a s o n s , s in c e s o i l in tr o d u c e s

s e v e r a l unknown and u n c o n tr o lle d ch em ica l f a c t o r s in t o t h e ir e x p e r i­ m en ts.

F eed in g p la n t s th e n eed ed fo o d e le m e n ts i n c a r e f u l l y compounded

s o lu t io n s was th e o n ly way o u t , and h a s been p r a c t ic e d s in c e around 1 850 in ch em ical la b o r a t o r ie s * I t was n o t u n t i l ab ou t 1925 th a t s c i e n t i s t s had le a r n e d en o u ^ i o f th e s e c r e t s o f p la n t grow th th a t th e y were a b le to u s e th e s e s o i l ­ l e s s m ethods in p r a c t i c a l crop r a i s i n g .

S u c c e ss came f i r s t w ith

f lo w e r s , and fo llo w e d i n 1929 onward w ith v e g e t a b le s and f i e l d crops* Some o f th e r e s u l t s a c h ie v e d w ith s o i l l e s s m ethods were much b e t t e r than a v era g e s o i l crop y ie ld s *

Amateurs began to tr y o u t s o i l l e s s

g a r d e n in g methods i n t h e ir b ack y a r d s , som etim es w ith s u r p r is in g ly good r e s u l t s .

In some c a s e s , a lth o u g h the money v a lu e o f p r o d u c ts

r a is e d was n o th in g rem ark able, s t i l l h o b b y is ts had th e fu n o f grow ing p l a n t s in a new and n o v e l way*

The p o p u la r ity o f s o i l l e s s g a r d e n in g

i n th e l a t e 1 t h i r t i e s and e a r ly 1f o r t i e s may be Judged by a c o n s id e r ­ a b le number o f m agazine a r t i c l e s and s e v e r a l books w r itte n on t h i s s u b j e c t about th a t time*

X

D arin g th e war y e a r s , ch em ica l g a rd en in g was dem onstrated to he a p r a c t i c a l method o f su p p ly in g G-. 1 . 1s i n i s o l a t e d barren lo c a t i o n s w ith f r e s h s a la d v e g e t a b le s .

In Japan a l s o , la r g e g r a v e l c u ltu r e

i n s t a l l a t i o n s have fu r n is h e d a l l th e needed f r e s h v e g e t a b le s to occupy** in g p e r s o n n e l, th er e b y c o n s e r v in g s o i l r e s o u r c e s a s w e ll a s a v o id in g p o s s i b l e d is e a s e c o n ta m in a tio n from s o il-g r o w n v e g e t a b le s ,

Jap an ese

s c i e n t i s t s have taken g r e a t i n t e r e s t , and have a s s i s t e d w ith t h i s s o i l l e s s g a r d e n in g p r o j e c t , s e e in g in t h i s method a p o s s ib le means o f in c r e a s in g Japanr s li m i t e d s o il-g r o w n fo o d s u p p lie s * In o r g a n iz in g th e s e v a r io u s s o i l l e s s g a r d e n in g p r o d u c tio n u n i t s , th e Army c a l l e d on e x p e r ie n c e d greenhouse o p e r a to r s who have been u s in g s o i l l e s s m ethods o f p r o d u c tio n s in c e around 1940 to produce o u t - c f - s e a s o n c ro p s fo r b e t t e r than average p r i c e s .

C u r io u sly , th e

s e r io u s u s e o f s o i l l e s s g a rd en in g by th e army was p r eced ed by i t s u se a s a hobby by c o n v a le s c in g a i r - f o r c e v e te r a n s in F lo r id a .

fh e remark­

a b le r e s u l t s th ey o b ta in e d s u g g e s te d th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f i t s s e r io u s u s e in fo o d p r o d u c tio n in b arren is l a n d s o f th e A t l a n t i c and th e P a c i f i c . In s p i t e o f h a v in g to d i s t i l l o cea n w ater and tr a n s p o r t th e c h e m ic a ls lo n g d is t a n c e s , th e c o s t s o f p ro d u cin g th e s e v e g e t a b le s were n o t pro­ h i b i t i v e , a s m ight be ex p ected * Here a r e some s u g g e s tio n s f o r you to f o llo w in o rd er t o g e t a w -d o -y o u -d o B a c q u a in ta n c e w ith t h i s new method o f grow ing p la n t s : ( a ) O btain and have shown one o r two o f th e m oving p ic t u r e s l i s t e d in th e ML i s t o f 16 mm. M otion P ic t u r e F ilm s11# (b ) Look through th e i l l u s ­ t r a t i o n s in s e v e r a l o f th e R e se rv e S h e lf B ooks, o r have them shown to th e c l a s s w ith an opaque p r o j e c t o r , f o llo w in g th e s e l e c t e d l i s t in

xi 11S o u rc e s U s e fu l fo r O r ie n ta tio n 11* h e a d in g ^ P ic tu r e s i n R eserv e S h e lf B ooks” •

( c ) Head s e c t io n s i n th e He se r v e S h e lf Books w hich are intro**

d u c to r y o r g e n e r a l i n n a tu r e; s e e **Sou rces U s e fu l fo r O r ie n t a t io n ”, h e a d in g HH eadings in Be se r v e S h e lf Books11,

(d ) Head th e m agazine art-*

i c l e s su g g e ste d in **S ou rces U s e fu l fo r O r ie n ta tio n 11* h e a d in g "Magazine A r tic le s * * ,

( e ) Arrange a v i s i t to a n u r se r y w hich p r a c t i c e s s o i l l e s s

methods* o r to a p la n t p h y s io lo g y la b o r a to r y ,

( f ) O btain some sam ples

o f v e g e t a b le s o r s tr a w b e r r ie s grown by s o i l l e s s g a rd en in g m ethods and g iv e them a t a s t e t e s t * I t i s w ith the hope t h a t you w i l l f in d in s o i l l e s s g a r d e n in g a new and f a s c i n a t i n g hobby t h a t t h i s book h a s been w r it t e n .

In a d d it io n ,

w hat you le a r n by i t s stu d y may become o f p r a c t i c a l v a lu e to you* e i t h e r a s a f u l l - t i m e o c c u p a tio n , o r a s a means o f grow ing p a r t o f your own p rod u ce and f lo w e r s .

Even i f you a d o p t s o i l m ethods e x c l u s i v e l y , t h i s

cou rse sh o u ld g iv e you a b e t t e r w orking knowledge o f th e n e e d s o f p la n t s t h a t w i l l h e lp you g e t b e t t e r r e s u l t s *

1

PART I . STARTING SOMETHING HOW TO SET UP A SIMPLIFIED PROJECT S in ce you have g iv en th e work o f o th e r s i n s o i l l e s s g a rd en in g a q u ic k o n c e -o v e r, we th in k you may be an x io u s to u n d e rta k e some p r o je c t o r ex p erim en t o f your own w hich, alth o u g h on a sm all s c a le , w i l l be r e a l s o i l l e s s g a rd e n in g . When t h a t i s on i t s way, th e r e w i l l be tim e enough to d ig in t o th e f i n e r d e t a i l s , s h o r t- c u t s and tr o u b le - s h o o tin g . The fo llo w in g two c h a p te r s a re in te n d e d to h e lp you w ith such a p r o j e c t .

2 CHAPTER 1* SIMPLIFIED PROCEDURES HOW TO START WITH READILY AVAILABLE SUPPLIES S o i l l e s s g a rd e n in g i s th o u g h t by many p eo p le to be a d i f f i c u l t and h ig h ly s p e c ia liz e d b u sin e ss*

W hile t h e r e i s much t h a t can be

le a r n e d ab o u t th e f i n e p o in ts o f c h e m ic u ltu re , you, even though an am ateu r, can make a good s t a r t w ith n o th in g more co m p licated th a n a flo w e r p o t, a t i n can, a te n c e n t package o f c h em icals, some sand, and a tom ato p la n t from th e nurserym an.

Or, w ith a l i t t l e more care i n

p la n n in g , you can s e t up a c o n tin u o u s d r ip s o lu tio n su p p ly t h a t w i l l ta k e l e s s a t t e n t i o n and r e a l l y produce good r e s u l t s .

Follow th e d e s ­

c r i p t i o n s i n t h i s c h a p te r f o r a good s e n d -o ff i n t h i s f a s c i n a t i n g hobby. A. SOME PRACTICAL AMATEUR ARRANGEMENTS How to p ro v id e n e c e s s a r y f a c t o r s f o r p la n t grow th F o llo w in g a re some p r a c t i c a l s u g g e s tio n s to a id you in la u n c h in g i n t o s o i l l e s s g ard en in g a s a hobby i n your home.

You may be i n t e r e s t e d

i n no v el and d e c o r a tiv e d is p la y s f o r in d o o rs , o r you may want to ta k e th e f i r s t s te p s tow ard r a i s i n g flo w e rs f o r bouquets o r v e g e ta b le s f o r th e ta b le * 1.

How to make a t t r a c t i v e house d i s p l a y s .

A bu lb o r flo w e rin g

p la n t grow ing in s o lu tio n i s an o b je c t o f i n t e r e s t a s w e ll a s one o f b e a u ty .

Glazed flo w e r p o ts , p a in te d g la s s bow ls, or j a r s o f a t t r a c t ­

iv e d e s ig n can be u sed in your d is p l a y .

Many p la n ts a re p r iz e d a s

house d e c o r a tio n s f o r t h e i r f o li a g e o r f lo w e r s .

Some f o li a g e p la n ts

a r e E n g lis h iv y , ru b b e r p l a n t s , K e n tia palm s, and so f o r t h .

S u ita b le

f lo w e rin g p la n ts in c lu d e M ira lem on, c a l l a l i l l i e s , a m a r y llis , g e ra ­

5 n iu m s,. f u c h s i a s , and l i l i e s - o f - t h e - v a l l e y .

For a more com plete l i s t ,

see t h e pages c ite d i n L a u rie , a t th e end o f t h i s c h a p te r . Many a t t r a c t i v e a s w e ll a s f u n c tio n a l a rra n g e m e n ts have been worked o u t t o su p p ly p l a n ts w ith a c o n s ta n t su p p ly o f s o lu tio n .

In

t h e d r ip a rra n g em en t, you i n v e r t a q u a rt j a r o f s o lu ti o n on a d is h , and u s e a c a p i l l a r y tu b e s ip h o n to d r ip th e s o lu ti o n on to th e sand o r in to , th e j a r c o n ta in in g th e p l a n t ’ s r o o ts * . In a n o th e r arran g em en t,, a w ick draws th e n u t r i e n t s o lu tio n up in to th e sand I n w hich th e p l a n t ’ s r o o ts a r e grow ing.

For p i c t u r e s and f u r t h e r d e s c r i p t i o n , , see E l l i s , c ite d at:,

th e end o f th e c h a p te r . For th o se who w ish to pay th e p r ic e , some v e ry a r t i s t i c double v a s e s a r e a v a i l a b l e co m m ercially, w hich su p p ly n u t r i e n t s by a w ick p r i n c i p l e to th e p l a n t s .grow ing i n san d . You may w ish t o work o u t your own a rran g em en t, a c c o rd in g t o your own p r e f e r e n c e s .

The e s s e n t i a l f e a t u r e s , from th e s ta n d p o in t o f th e

p l a n t ’ s n eed s, a re s

(a)

Som ething t o h o ld th e p l a n t u p r ig h t.

T his

may be sand o r g r a v e l around th e p l a n t ’ s r o o ts , o r , i f th e y hang in s o lu t i o n , th e stem may be h e ld f ir m ly i n a co rk , o r i n a w ire b a sk e t w ith e x c e ls io r * ,

(b )

M su p p ly o f n u t r i e n t s t o th e r o o ts , w hether sup­

p l i e d by a d r ip system , o c c a s io n a l p o u rin g o r f lo o d in g , im m ersion o f r o o ts I n a c o n ta in e r o f s o lu tio n , or th e u se o f a w ick ,

(c)

A su p p ly

o f a i r to th e r o o t s , w hether d is s o lv e d i n th e w a te r by bubbling, froth*^ in g , b e a tin g , e t c . , o r by th e a i r sp aces i n c o a rs e sand o r g r a v e l, o r by some o th e r m ethod*, (d )

A p r o v is io n to c a tc h and r e - u s e th e s o lu tio n

t h a t p a s s e s th ro u g h , i f you d e s i r e .

You w i l l do w e ll to re a d th e s e f o u r

e s s e n t i a l s o v er a g a in c a r e f u l l y , s in c e th e y s t a t e in a n u t s h e l l what you m ust do t o c a r ry on s o i l l e s s g a rd e n in g by any m ethod.

♦

You w i l l f in d t h a t a d is p la y o f th e k in d we a re d e s c r ib in g w i l l s tim u la te c u r i o s i t y ,, g iv e v i s i t o r s a t o p i c o f c o n v e rs a tio n , and a ls o w i l l be a n o v e l d e c o r a tiv e a rra n g e m e n t.

A l i v i n g p l a n t , w ith gleam ing

w h ite r o o ts grow ing in cool w a te r, may be j u s t th e t h i n g t o g iv e your l i v i n g room a to u c h o f n o v e l a t t r a c t i v e n e s s . 2.

How to grow p l a n t s i n e a r th e n o o ts , c a n s, j a r s , o r something;

e l s e t h a t f s handy.

I f y our s e t- u p d o e s n 't need t o be a r e s p e c ta b le

"Sunday c lo th e s " arran g em en t f o r th e l i v i n g room, you can p u t your p l a n t s i n q u ite a v a r i e t y o f r e c e p t a c l e s . cans w i l l d o .

O offee or o th e r l a r g e r t i n

Punch a h o le i n t h e bottom f o r d ra in a g e , f i l l th e can

f u l l o f c o a rse sand, s e t i t on to p o f a s l i g h t l y s m a lle r can, th e n d is s o lv e y o u r ch em icals a c c o rd in g to th e i n s t r u c t i o n s on th e package you have bo u g h t, and p l a n t some se e d s in th e sand*

Pour th e c o n te n ts

o f th e bottom can back i n t o th e to p once o r tw ic e a day, r e p le n is h in g w a te r u sed by th e p l a n t .

Does t h a t seem d i f f i c u l t ?

For s p ro u tin g

s e e d s , u se p l a i n w a te r f o r some s e e d s , o r h a l f - s t r e n g t h s o lu t io n f o r some o t h e r s .

See F ig u re 1 , on t h e fo llo w in g p a g e .

T h is i s th e s im p le s t and e a s i s t arrangem ent t o s e t u p ,, so you sh o u ld n o t e x p e c t p e r f e c t l y t r o u b l e - f r e e o p e r a tio n .

W ith a l i t t l e

e x t r a p la n n in g , you m ig h t s e t up som ething t h a t w i l l ta k e l e s s a t t e n ­ t i o n to keep g o in g .

Your cans may g e t to o warm in th e su n sh in e f o r

t h e b e s t h e a l t h o f th e p l a n t r o o t s .

I f your sand i s to o f i n e , th e

d ra in a g e and a i r su p p ly to th e r o o ts may n o t be j u s t r i g h t .

Even so,

5

©• O 16

.

*J C ’

- «£

X

V v

\

\ V

s.

\"~

X X

X

V X

V X

X \

X

iv 0 0 ^ _ %

X X

X

V X

V

X

o* •° • • 0 A VI 0 • ♦ • •

X X \ » X X X X X X

« J

I-S g-S r D v)

ttf JAR OR CAM

r

you; can g e t som ething s t a r t e d , , and som ething t h a t w i l l r e a l l y work* And i t sh o u ld ta k e you l e s s th a n a h a lf-h o u r*

So l e t * s w orry ab o u t th e

t r o u b l e s when th e y come, and n o t b efo re* You can s u b s t i t u t e a f lo w e r- p o t f o r th e u p p e r can we m entioned above*

Now, suppose you w ant to u s e a cro ck , o r g la s s

j a r , w ith no

h o le f o r d ra in a g e * . You can p ro v id e d ra in a g e w ith a g la s s tu b e sip h o n , b e n t i n a bunsen b u rn er o r o r d in a ry gas flam e, o r you may t r y ru b b e r tu b in g *

See F ig u re 1 ,. A*.

5*. How to make a c o n tin u o u s d r ip a rra n g e m e n t*

In p r e s e n tin g

house d i s p l a y s , we d e s c rib e d one way t o make a c o n tin u o u s d r ip se t-u p * . F ig u re 2 shows a n o th e r u s e o f th e same p r in c ip le *

Use a h a l f —g a llo n

o r g a llo n c lo th e s - b le a c h o r c id e r ju g , s u p p o rtin g i t s e c u r e ly in an i n v e r te d p o s itio n *

You may s u b s t i t u t e a s t r i n g o r c lo th f o r th e e a p i l —

la r y - t u b e sip h o n , u s in g a t h i c k s t r i n g f o r f a s t e r , o r a t h i n s t r i n g f o r slow er d rip p in g * To save la b o r and a t t e n t i o n , , you may ?0 ,

E ith e r one

would supply Mg and S to our pibants.

W ell, you

Which one i s cheaper?

can see r ig h t away th a t epsom s a l t s i s tw ice a s high, to b egin w ith , and h as seven tim es a s much (H^O) in i t , a s k i e s e r i t e , so k i e s e r it e i s q u ite a l o t cheaper. p e r ton?

As a source o f MgSO^ o n ly , how much does each one c o s t

65 n „ 4.

__ . . «. c o s t o f k i e s e r i t e Cost ox MgSUA m kieserite —— ...-------■ —3— ~ —?=-=?4

r a t i o o f MgS04 i n MgS04 *H20

4

-

$20 p e r to n w e i^ it o f MkSOa w e ig h t o f MgS04 *H20

$20 y 1 3 0 fl8 120

_ $ 158 " 6

$ 2 0 / ton „ 24+334-4x16+24-16 * 2 4 f3 3 + 4 x l6

=

»

$23 p er ton

S im ila r ly , c o s t o f MgSO. in epsom s a l t s s - 2 £ s.t:---------------- ,SB^^----- ;— --- ---4 r a t io o f MgS04 in MgS04 -7H20

- $< ) Pe r ton = w eig h t o f MgS04 w eig h t o f MgS04 *7H20

Check th e se r e s u l t s .

\ ? e f to n . i )* 4x( ) ( )+( )+ 4x( )+ 7x( M

=

$82 p er ton .

)

You can s e e , th e r e fo r e , th a t i f you were buying

v e r y la r g e q u a n i t i t i e s , i t would pay to take much trou b le to g e t the k i e s e r i t e in p r efe re n c e to the epsom s a l t s . f.

Sample problem on su p p ly in g copper.

Another problem showing

th e im portance o f atom ic w eig h ts and the method o f su p p ly in g a n e c e ssa r y tra c e elem en t i s the fo llo w in g s

What w eight o f copper s u l f a t e , CuS04

anhydrous, should be added to 10 g a llo n s o f water to make .1 p a r ts p er m illio n (p . p . m .) o f copper, Gu, in the so lu tio n ?

We want *1

o n e -m illio n th o f the w eigh t o f 10 g a llo n s o f w ater to be the Cu p a rt o f our 0uS04 *

A g a llo n o f w ater w eigh s 8*33 l b s . , which we can c a l l

8 l b s . , s in c e in hydroponics we do n o t have to be as a ccu ra te a s r e a l

ch e m ists a r e .

(So, M A p i n t l s a pound, the world arou n d .” a s the waying

r u n s .) Our 10 g a llo n s o f w ater w i l l w eigh about 80 l b s . , and o n e -te n th o f one p .p .m . o f 80 l b s . i s . l x . 000001x80 - .000008 l b s .

Changing t h is

to o u n ces, we m u ltip ly by 16, g iv in g .000128 o z . o f Cu th a t we want. Now CuSO^ i s n o t a l l Cu, so what p rop ortion o f i t i s Cu?

66 0* - s ,( ) . ... =s— . (C heck th e s e f i g u r e s , ) CuS04 (liT T i^ c T T 5

3b g e t 3 p a r t s

o f Cu i t w i l l r e q u ir e 5 p a r t s o f CuSO^, so to g e t .0 0 0 1 2 8 o z . o f Cu w i l l r e q u ir e | x .0 0 0 1 3 8 s i x 2 f

.0 0 0 0 6 4 .0 0 0 1 3 8 - .0 0 0 3 2 o e . o f CuS04 r e q u ir e d .

How can we g e t 33 one hundred th o u sa n d th s o f an ounce o f som ething? H ere18 an e a s y way:

D is s o l v e , s a y . one ounce o f CaS04 i n a q u a r t o f

w a ter and s t i r i t u p .

How i t i s a l l d i s t r i b u t e d e v e n ly .

I f we ta k e a

sm a ll p a r t , sa y a ta b le s p o o n , we g e t a sm a ll p a r t o f th e 1 ounce o f CuS04 .

S in c e th e r e a r e 1 6 ta b le s p o o n s i n

we w ould have

or 1 5

x A -9 * 64 165

1 4x16

s

i 64

o f an ounce o f

a cup. and 4 cups i n a q u a r t, CfuSO,,* in th e ta b le s p o o n .

0 8 * «. .0 0 6 3 o z . o f Cu.

Comparing *0063 o z . o f Cu in a ta b le s p o o n w ith .0 0 0 3 3 o z . , we s e e w« h a v e , i f we fu dge a l i t t l e ,

.0 0 6 4 0 = 20 tim e s to o 8 tr o a g * B olu tio)1. tv w 3 2

So, i f we weaken our s o lu t io n b y m ix in g

cup from ou r q u a rt w ith 19

h a lf - c u p s ( - lOj- cups s 1 q t , . 1 p t . , and J cup) o f w a te r , th e same Cu w i l l be sp read o u t through 20 tim e s a s much l i q u i d a s b e fo r e , and one ta b le s p o o n w i l l g iv e .0 0 0 3 2 o z . o f Cu w hich we w anted to add to th e 10 g a llo n s o f s o lu t io n t o g e t ou r . 1 p . p . m. w h ich i s r e q u ir e d .

We su g ­

g e s t y o u go o v er t h i s problem and dl> i t o v e r by y o u r w e lf, so t h a t you can c a r r y i t th ro u g h . g,

Sample problem o f p r o v id in g a tr a c e e le m e n t s o l u t i o n .

John

J o n e s want to p rep a re a com p lete tr a c e e le m e n t s o l u t i o n , n o t in c lu d in g ir o n , w hich he p la n s to p r o v id e s e p a r a t e ly . c’

Hie r e a d s i n th e E n c y c lo -

p e d ia Am ericana a r t i c l e on “H y d ro p o n ics11 t h a t th e a llo w a b le range f o r

67 tr a c e e le m e n ts I s : Manganese (Ma)

1 / 2 to

4 p . p . m#

Boron (BE)

1 / 5 to

1 /2 p . p . m.

Z in c (Zn)

1 /2 0 to

1 / 5 p . p . m*

Copper (Get)

1 /5 0 to

i f 5 p . p . m.

Molybdenum (Mo ) He b e l i e v e s t h a t th e w a te r c o n t a in s t r a c e s o f b o ro n , and th a t th e g a lv a n iz e d w a ter p ip e w i l l add sm a ll amount o f z in c to th e w a te r . T h e r e fo r e , h e p la n s to p r o v id e th e f o llo w i n g p . p . m. o f tr a c e e le m e n ts , i n th e s o lu t io n :

Mn, 1; B, *1; Zn, *05; Cu, *1; and Mb, * 6 1 /

He w i l l

p r e p a r e 10 g a llo n s o f s o l u t i o n a t one tim e , w hich h e e x p e c t s to l a s t a m onth, and th en h e w i l l p r e p a r e f r e s h s o lu t io n * a tr a c e s o lu t io n o f w hich h e w i l l add i tio n .

He w a n t s c ^ p r e p a r e

cup to th e 10 g a llo n s o f s o lu ­

He h a s a l e t t e r s c a l e w hich weiggis 1 oz* c o n v e n ie n t ly , so he

p la n s to d i s s o l v e 1 o z . o f e a c h o f h i s c h e m ic a ls i n th e c o r r e c t amount o f w a ter so th a t he can th en p u t £ cup o f e a ch in t o a q u a r t j a r and b y f i l l i n g th e q u a rt w ith w a te r , have th e c o r r e c t s o lu t i o n to add i cup to h i s 10 g a llo n tank* He h a s th e f o llo w in g c h e m ic a ls :

manganese s u l f a t e , MnS04 ; b o r ic

a c id , H3BO3; z in c s u l f a t e , ZnSO^THrjO; copper s u l f a t e (h y d r a te d ), CaS04»5Eg0; and p o ta ssiu m m o ly b d a te v XgEbQ^*

What am ounts o f w a ter

s h a l l he u s e t o d isso lv e^ e a c h o f h i s c h e m ic a ls s e p a r a te ly ? He a r r a n g e s h i s wo'rk i n th e form o f a t a b le , a s f o llo w s :

68 B lem . Comp, B eq . ppm. X XYZ fin a l.

Ppm a f t e r PPm a f t e r Ppm o f XYZ 2d d il u t * 1 s t s o l , a fte r 1 s t (X 640) (X 32) s o l.

Amt. w ater reqw , o z . 6

ih c , Mn

MnSO. *

1

640

B

H3BO3

*1

64

64x32

. *x 3 r ll* 4 8 r 11*500

Zn

ZnSOa* 7HoO

*05

32

32x32

* *x 6 5 * 3 2 * 6 4 * 1 2 6 -4 ,5 2 0 227 oz* 65

Cu

Cu SOa * 5HfaO

*1

64

64x32

• • X64+32+64+90.J3,000 64 *

Ho

X^fo04

*01

Xlem* W ater, X O z.

6*4

32x640

6*4x32

. , x 5 5 * 3 2 * 6 4 .. 5 6 ,6 0 0 55 ~

* *x 7 8*96*64^ 96

16*7x1 p i n t 16*7 o z .

B

86 x l t p l h t 5*16 1 6 .7 oz* * 227 x l p i n t - 13*63 1 6 .7 o z . *

1 ga l* 1 q t .

1 p t*

Cu

134 x l p i n t «• 1 6 .7 o z . *

1 q t. 3 p ts .

1 cup

2*

7*5

x l p i n t