A -rare substance that has caused re
markable acceleration of growth in some
plants holds promise as a major growth
regulating chemical, according to scien
tists of the U. S Department of Agricul
ture. Gibberellic acid, one form of this
chemical, has ' doubled or tripled plant
height in many cases. In this photograph,
California ‘Wonder Pepper plants on the
* s
New Growth Regulator* Triples
Height of Some Ornamental Plants
WASHINGTON (USDA)
A rare and little-known sub
stance that has caused remark
able acceleration of growth in a
number of plants offers unusual
possibilities as a growth-regulat
ing chemical, the U S Depart
ment of Agriculture reports
In preliminary greenhouse ex
periments, gibberellic acid (one
form of the chemical) has doubl
ed or tripled the heights of vari
ous kinds ot plants Only one ap
plication of the chemical, in
very minute amounts, was made
in each case.
In these tests at USDA’s Agri
cultural Research Center, Belts
ville, Md., gibberellic acid was
applied in a lanolin paste mix
ture externally to the stems of
young plants Within three to
four weeks following treatment,
ornamentals such as geranium,
pomsettia, sunflower, rose, sal
via, dwarf dahlia, petunia, and
aster had grown one-half to
three times taller than compar
able untreated plants.
Crop Plants Tested
Heights of crop plants such as
snapbean, soybean, peanut, pep
per, eggplant, corn, and barley
were in many cases doubled or,
tripled by similar application of
the chemical. During the early
stages of growth, both the weight
of fresh soybean and snapbean
plants and the amount of solid
matter in them were increased bv
30 to 40 per cent with gibberel
lic acid.
In limited tests with several
vegetables, including tomatoes,
snapbeans, and peppers, apply
ing the chemical directly to the
fruit did not affect fruit growth.
, Hew growth of young forest
trees such as willow oak, tulip
poplar, and maple was greatly
increased by treatment with, gib
b'erellic acid. However, similar
applications to two species of
pine and white spruce caused
only slight increase in growth of
new shoots.''
' Under greenhouse conditions,
gibberellic acid retarded-flower
ing of some ornamental and crop
plants, while in others it advanc
ed flowering by one to several
weeks.
Only minute amounts of the
chemical are needed to produce
these effects. As little as one
millionth of an ounce of gibber
ellic acid in an ounce of water
caused plants to grow taller in
some of the Beltsville tests. Al
though all imtial applications of
the acid were in a lanolin paste
mixture, researchers have now
Plant Growth Accelerated
switched to using a foliar spray,
which is easier to apply
Even though gibberellic acid
itself is not new, having been
known for some years, its pres
ent experimental use as a growth
regulator on a wide variety of
horticultural, agronomic, and
forest-tree species is a relatively
new development
The acid was first obtained
from a fungus of the genus Gib
berella that has long been a ma
jor disease of rice in Japan, caus
ing excessive elongation of the
rice plants and reduced yield
When early work on prevention
of this disease was earned on in
Japan, researchers noticed the
characteristic elongation of plant
grown in media containing the
fungus, and they later isolated
from the fungus chemicals re
sponsible for this increased
growth not only of rice but of
other kinds of plants Studies on
its characteristics by scientists at
Beltsville were initiated as part
of a continuing research program
on - plant-growth-regulating com
pounds -■
Research Preliminary
Physiologists P. C Marth, W.
V Audia, and J W. Mitchell of
USDA’s Agricultural Research
Service are conducting the work
on gibberellic acid at Beltsville.
Their initial success in drama
tically increasing plant growth
has led them to extend their re
search to learn whether gibberel
lic acid can be used in any of
the following ways: To stimulate
elongation of plants, giving them
an advantage over competing
growths; to increase the dry
weight of certain crops at harvest
time (especially forage crops);
and to increase the growth of
plants that grow slowly but are
in great demand, such as pulp
wood.
The USDA scientists point
out, however, that research on
gibberellic acid is still in a pre
liminary stage, and no immediate
practical-use for the chemical has
yet been worked out.
A major difficulty is the seri
ous shortage of gibberellic acid.
Methods for production of the
chemical in large amounts have
not been developed, and avail
ale supplies are in urgent de
mand because its sudden prom
inence as a research material. In
addition to the work at Belts
ville, similar studies of gibber
ellic acid are currently under
way by other researchers in the
United States, Japan, and Great
Britain.
fv *
left received a treatment of one per cent
gibberellic acid in lanolin paste, applied
around the stem of each plant, about four
weeks before the picture was taken. Un
;s at right are same age as
ts. Difference in height bo
zo pairs of plants is due to
fating effect of gibberellic
Photo).
treated plant
treated plant
tween the tw
growth-stimul
acid. (USDA
State Police Teacher
Completes FBI Course
HARRISBURG Sergeant
John I Giosniek was graduated
fiom the 12-week course of study
at the FBI National Acad
emy, Washington, D C , on June
8, it was announced today by
Colonel E J Henry, State Po
lice Commissioner.
Sergeant Grosnick is an m
stiuctor in criminal law and
procedure, laboratoiy and police
aids, fingerprinting, and other
crime detection aids at the State
Police Training School Hershey
He has been a State Policeman
19 years Prior to enlisting in the
Department in 1937, he- served
six years with the United States
Aimy
He was graduated from Her
shey Junior College in 1946,
Leoanon Valley College in 1953,
and is presently enrolled at
Temple University where he is
studying for his master’s degree
in education His formal educa
tion was attained during evening
classes.
'>> r '
The New... Easy Way To Make
Your Grass Fields Pay
By The Use of LIQUID NITROGEN
PASTURES AND HAY FIELDS FOR 2nd CUTTING produce more good, high quality,
low cost feed than almost any other crop—if they get enough plant food and water
FERAN Nitrogen Solution is ideal for building’up extra tonnage of good, rich, green feed
that’s hi«h in protein.
PASTURES—Nitrogen is necessary for high quality pastures. For each pound of mtro
gen taken up by forage plants. 6 I*4 pounds of vital and valuable protein is given back in
to return. For farmers who need more high-quality protein, this is the way to get it
Pastuies need a readily available source of nitrogen. For summer pastures use 30 to 60
pounds of nitrogen per acre on annual or perennial grasses and millet. \ou can expect
about I ton of hay increase for 40 pounds of elemental nitrogen per acre, or 400 pounds
ot 10 10 10 per acre. If the field, is acid it m ist be limed first. It it is lew in phosphorus
and potash, the 10-10 10 should be used. Also, keep in mind that nitrogen will increase
•the protein con cut in tne hay or pasturage.
CORN needs plenty of nitrogen for big profitable yields. You can apply FERAN when
you plow down cover crops or stalks, to assure q >ick rotting into nitrogen rich humus
Or apply 60 to 120 pounds of nitrogen from FERAN on the soil at side dressing time. Or
use FERAN in irrigation water.
CHEAPER IN THE LIQUID FORM
Ask your county agent for circular 458—“ NITROGEN PAYS rt
Published by Pa state University College ot Agriculture. Extension Service
SEE YOUR APPLICATOR LISTED BELOW . . .
Snavely Farm Service
New Holland Phone 4-2214
Cyrus B. Ferguson
Kukwood. Phone 36-R3
J.'W. Graham,
West Chester Phone 1566
Shollenberger Farm Supply
Centerport. x Phone Leesport 6-7671
DISTRIBUTED BY
A. L. WERTMAN, 133 N. 9th ST., COLUMBIA, PH. 4-2380
Lancaster Farming, Friday, June 29, 1956—11
New Laws Thai
Affect Farmer
Now Activated
I HARRISBURG— Activation of
_the many now laws affecting
Pennsylvania farmcis and the
State Depaitment ol Agncultuie,
passed by the 1955-56 Legisla
tive, is in full swing m the De
partment, Secretary William L
Henning announced today
Topping the long list of acts
bringing direct benefits to farm
ers is 100 per cent rebate of the
State tax of six cents per gallon
on gasoline used on farms in the
production ot food, he said The
previous refund rate was 50 per
cent The new act, now in effect,
gives farmers opportunity to ap
ply for lull xefund of the tax
which amounts to $6O on every
1,000 gallons of gasoline used on
the farm
« '
New acts are designed to guar
antee that farmers receive full
value for the fertilizers, livestock
and poultry feeds that they buy.
The acts establishes a self-sus
taining enforcement fund through
an assessment of two cents a ton
on sales by manufacturers
A start was made on modenza
tion of the general food law when
the Joint State Government
Commission was directed to
make a study and report at the
1957 session of the General As
sembly.
The United States Department
of Agriculture Crop Repoitmg
Board’s wool price report shows
that for every dollar’s worth of
wool a farmer sold in the 1955
marketing year he will receive
an additional 44 9 cents in pro
duction payments from the Gov
ernment.
The season average price of
42 8 cents compares with 53 2 for
the 1954 season, and 54 9 for
1953, or the present price is the
lowest since 1947 The Depart
ment will pay 77 cents per 100
pounds of live weight as a sub
sidy on lambs, a subsidy design
ed to support wool pulled from
carcasses.
• ■■■■■■■■ lIBIiaiIISBBIBIKIIIEiIBBBMjI
■ ICE-BALLS will fall between!
5 NOW and HARVEST Time s
■ m
J Buy Hail Insurance on Growing Crops ■
g Call ■
S BROWN &MC CARTER S
■ ■
■ 33 North Duke St. - Lancaster, Penna. £
a Telephone 2-1712 - £
■ ■
■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■■.
nJUtUtttR
Vegetable Production
Delayed by Freeze
HARRISBURG Production
of spnng and summei vegetables
on Pennsylvania commercial
liuck iaims has been delayed
two weeks 01 more and output is
expected to be below average ir}
some areas, according to surve>s
announced bv the State Depart
ment ot Aenculture. - -
The suivev covered aspara
gus, beans, b°ets, lettuce, spnng
spinach and strawbeines Cold
weather hindered development of
each crop Snap beans were
especially haid hit and the sea
son has been a poor one, the De
partment said Planting started
about a week late Killing trosts
on May 17 and 25 damaged the
early acieage
Volume movement of Pennsyl
vania strawberries started about
June 10 The ciop is below last
yeai due to the May fieeze dam
age to blossoms.
Spring spinach harvesting
reached its peak in late May and
continued into June Late spring
lettuce harvest was delajed
about two weeks
MUSSER
Leghorn Chicks
For Largo Whito Eggs
DONEGAL
WHITE CROSS
For Broiler Chicks
"Direct from tho Ormedor 1 *
Phon* Mt Joy 3-4911
MOUNT JOY, PA.