20 THE AVOCADO IN FLORIDA. 



latent buds, or l>y cutting;- the trees off near the ground and then wait- 

 ing for sprouts to start from the crown. Several of these sprouts are 

 then budded and the most vigorous of those that have taken are per- 

 mitted to grow (see PI. II, tig. 1). 



CULTIVATION. 



When the trees are set in the field a considerable quantity of mulch 

 should be placed about them; this prevents the soil from becoming- 

 hot about the roots and from dr3dng out. 



In Florida it is better to plant some field crops, such as cowpeas or 

 velvet beans, or to sow beggar weed in a young orchard. During the 

 wintev, crops of vegetables may he grown in the orchard with advan- 

 tage to the trees. The ''middles" may be planted to pineapples, 

 since the pineapple fertilizer will produce a good growth of avocado; 

 but there is the disadvantage that these plants will dry out the soil 

 severel}^ during a drought. During dry Aveather cultivation should 

 be frequent and thorough, ])ut not deep; 3 inches of soil mulch is 

 sufficient to conserve capillary moisture. During the rainy season 

 cultivation ma}^ be suspended entirely and the middles planted to 

 some cover crop, as indicated above. 



FERTILIZERS. 



In selecting fertilizers a formula should be chosen in which the 

 ammonia is from an organic source, such as dried l)lood or cotton- 

 seed meal, in preference to sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of soda. 

 Sulphate of potash will be a safe form to employ as a source of 

 potash. It should be used in liberal quantities to insure good firm 

 leaves and wood, and also to prevent the dropping of the fruit. 

 Phosphoric acid, so far as experiments teach, may be supplied from 

 any source that is ordinaril}^ used. If the trees be planted about 

 poultry yards, or fowls are allowed to roost in the trees, potash will 

 be all the fertilizer needed, ])ut this should ))e used liberally to keep 

 the trees healthy and free from insect attacks. Such trees when not 

 fertilized with potash are usuall}" attacked by insect pests, but as a 

 rule are exempt from Ghjeosporium. 



When conunercial fertilizers are to be applied, the ordinary- "fruit 

 and vine" fertilizer, with the ammonia from an organic source, may 

 be used. The quantity required will var}- according to the concentra- 

 tion of the particular brand, the character of the soil in which the 

 trees are growing, and the age of the trees. Fifteen pounds per tree 

 per year of fertilizer prepared according to the following formula will 

 be found good for growing trees four or five years old: Ammonia, 5 

 per cent; potash, per cent; phosphoric acid, 6 per cent. 



