Care op Fruit Trees. 629 



Table XX. 

 Apples. 



Lbs. alue> 



Nitrogen 664.8 $99 72 



Phosphoric acid 51 . 3 57 



Potash 971.4 43 71 



Total for twenty years $147 00' 



Total for twenty years (leaves) 160 51 



Total for life of tree (wood) 70 00> 



Grand total $377 51 



The value of nitrogen, etc., in any given case is so indefinite and 

 variable that stress should not be laid on values as given above, but 

 on the total amounts of plant food used by the orchard. 



The total amount of nitrogen, exclusive of that used in the 

 growth of the trees, is 1386.8 lbs., of phosphoric acid 310 lbs., and 

 of potash 1895.4 lbs. To restore the potash alone, as above and 

 that used by the growth of the tree, it would require 21.69 tons 

 of high grade ashes containing 5 per cent, of potash. To restore 

 the nitrogen as above, would require 16.19 tons per acre of a com- 

 mercial fertilizer containing 5 per cent, nitrogen. 



How much of this plant food is usually furnished to the orchard 

 by leguminous plants and by feeding supplementary foods 

 to animals which graze upon it and how much by the fallen leaves 

 and apples which are not blown or carried off, can not be told. 



While some of the computations and conclusions are based on- 

 estimates, yet it is believed that the tables represent average condi- 

 tions and need only the good judgment of the observant reader to 

 make them apply to his individual case with such degree of accu- 

 racy as to give valuable aid in the care and feeding of orchards. 



Many old orchards have not only been making these large demands- 

 on the soil for the last twenty years, but in many instances the land 

 has been used for the production of hay or grain, or more frequently 

 for the growing of lambs and pigs with little or no supplementary- 

 food. The grazing of orchards, especially with growing animals 

 without extra food, is as certain to deplete the land as grain raising,, 

 though the soil robbery is not so rapid. 



These investigations, when considered in all their bearings, lead 

 one to wonder not why old orchards are failing, but why they have 

 not ceased to produce merchantable fruit long since. 



