168 



EXPERIMENTAL FARMS. 



Potash and Phosphoric acid. — To furnish potash and phosphoric acid, we would 

 first mention wood ashes. In most parts of Canada they are the cheapest form in 

 which to purchase these constituents. Moreover, they possess them in the relative pro- 

 portion best suited to tree requirements and in a condition that renders them easily 

 available. 



If wood ashes are not obtainable, kainit and muriate of potash may be substituted 

 to supply potash ; and bone meal and superphosphate, the phosphoric acid. Bone meal 

 contains 2 per cent to 3 per cent of nitrogen, in addition to the phosphoric acid, but 

 requires a greater length of time in the ground to give up its constituents ; its effects 

 naturally last longer,. For this very reason it is often advocated for orchard fertilization. 



Both wood ashes and bone meal furnish lime, which we have seen to be a necessary 

 and somewhat important element. 



Soils differ so much in composition, that it is impossible to state definitely the 

 amounts of these fertilizers that should be employed in all cases. The wants of the 

 tree for fruit and leaves have been given and the principles for an economical return of 

 these requirements indicated. In conclusion, it may be said that the best and most 

 profitable crops can be obtained only when the soil contains what might be thought to 

 be a large amount of plant food, the greater part of which is more or less assimilable. 

 A good tilth, among other advantages, tends to a good root development. In such, the 

 rootlets are able to procure food from a much larger area than otherwise ; but in every 

 orchard, owing to the disposition of the roots, there must of necessity be much unoccu- 

 pied soil, and hence the importance of supplying liberally and in excess of that which 

 is absolutely needed for a season's growth and fruit, those forms of plant food which 

 we have been considering. 



CHEMISTRY OF THE STRAWBERRY PLANT. 



In order to ascertain the requirements of the strawberry crop and its effect upon 

 the soil, complete analyses of four varieties of strawberries have been made. The names 

 of these are Sharpless, Crescent, Wilson and Manchester, the whole plant, includ- 

 ing roots, being examined. The plants were colleoted while in flower during the 

 month of June, and before the fruit had appeared. They were carefully freed from ad- 

 hering soil, weighed and analysed. 



The subjoined table gives, in addition to other information, the percentages of 

 water, organic matter and ash (mineral matter), which together make up the composi- 

 tion of the plant : — 



Analyses of Strawberry Plants. 



Name of Variety of Strawberry. 



Sharpless, whole plant, in flower . 

 Crescent " " 



Wilson 

 Manchester " 



Average of four varieties. 



Date. 



June 4. 



Weight 



of 

 plant. 



3 oz. 

 3£ " 



3i " 



3A% 



Composition of Plant. 



Water. 



72-79 

 70 25 



72 80 



73 43 



72 32 



Organic 

 matter. 



25 15 

 27 13 

 24 89 

 24 77 



25 49 



Ash. 



206 

 262 

 231 

 1-80 



219 



