66 Third Annual Report 



Cherries and Plums. 



Voorhees states that cherries and pkims need essentially the 

 treatment of peaches, that excess of nitrogen should be avoided 

 and that occasional liming is necessary. He suggests medium 

 applications of his second formula. 



Van Slyke also lays stress on the need of lime and suggests 

 the use of 



Total Avail. 



Ingredients Weight Nitrogen P. A. P. A. Potash 



Nitrate of soda 25-50 4-8 



Dried blood 60-120 G-13 



Acid phosphate 250-500 .. 38-75 35-70 



Muriate of potash 90-180 .. .. .. 45-90 



Totals 425-850 10-21 38-75 35-70 45-90 



Percentage composition .... 2.4 9. 8.2 10.5 



As for the method of home mixing — as the mixing of fer- 

 tilizing crude stock is commonly called — the apparatus and pro- 

 cess are simplicity itself. A tight barn floor, platform scales, a 

 shovel with a square blade, an iron rake or hoe, and a sand 

 screen, three mesh to the inch, comprise the outfit. Weigh, 

 screen and pulverize all materials. Nitrate of soda in particular 

 is apt to be lumpy. If emptied on the floor, very slightly moist- 

 ened and allowed to stand over night the lumps will fall apart on 

 raking. It is advisable to specify remilled nitrate in buying. 

 The most bulky goods (usually the acid phosphate) are spread 

 in an oblong pile from 6 to I2 inches deep. Upon its leveled top 

 are placed one above another the other ingredients, the result- 

 ing pile resembling a layer cake. The pile is then mixed by 

 carefully shovelling, the shovel cutting down through all layers 

 each time. The pile is then levelled again and the operation 

 thrice repeated. The mixture may then be screened again if 

 desired and stored in bulk, bags or barrels. If in good mechani- 

 cal condition and in a dry place, the mixture may be kept for 

 months before using, without deterioration." 



