Appendix. 181 



tilizers. These points are fully as important as the presence or absence 

 of the small amount of plant food contained in the average fertilizer 

 application. 



1. The physical condition or tilth. A good physical condition is neces- 

 sary to the plants, t» enable them to obtain the necessary root growth, 

 and to permit more even distribution of the fertilizer. The very prepara- 

 tion given in bringing about this condition goes a long way in unlocking 

 the identical constituents that are later to be applied. This desirable 

 condition is not to be had in a soil that needs drainage or has a hardpan 

 too near the surface. If the soil is in a rough condition, full of clods, as 

 sometimes happens in clay soils, it is difficult to properly distribute the 

 fertilizer. In general the better the tilth, the more of the fertilizer applied 

 will be available. 



2. Fertilizers do not take the place of humus in soils. The commercial 

 fertilizers consist principally of phosphates of lime (mineral), salts of potash 

 (mineral), and some form of combined nitrogen. The two chief sources for 

 available nitrogen are nitrate of soda (mineral), and dried blood (animal). 

 This dried blood, and frequently tankage, are the only substances that would 

 tend to keep up the humus or mold in the soil. 



The virgin soil was rich in humus from the fallen leaves of centuries. 

 Under the influences of air, heat and moisture this humus decayed. The 

 products of this decay furnished not only available nitrogen to the plant, 

 but also part of the necessary mineral substances. The rock part of the 

 soil also gave up some of its mineral plant food through the decay of 

 the humus. The presence of humus is necessary for the best physical 

 condition or tilth. The soil on which the yields tabulated in Experiment 9 

 were obtained contained very little humus. This deficiency of humus, and 

 not the quality of the fertilizer, accounts for the relatively low yield. 



The amount of moisture stored in the soil, or brought to it by rains, 

 is a more potent factor than the mere adding of plant food. This is well 

 illustrated by Experiment 10, where the snow protected Plats 1 and 2, 

 and stored more water in the soil. 



On account of these various influences there is not necessarily a direct 

 relation between the composition of the soil and some particular substance 

 the application of which will increase fertility. The chemical composition 

 is only one of several important factors that are concerned in productivity. 

 It is the factor least under man's control, and the one to which he should 

 last resort; yet, the addition of commercial fertilizer may sometimes give 

 most profitable results. 



II. GENERAL SKETCH OF THE OSWEGO STRAWBERRY INDUSTRY. 



Oswego is the center of the most important strawberry industry of 

 New York State. The leading natural advantages of this region for the 

 commercial production of strawberries is the lateness at which the crop 

 matures. When the berry season of New Jersey and Southern New York 

 is past, the Oswego berries are in their prime. The lateness of the crop 



