MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 3(3 



prove more profitable to manure considerably in excess than to risk 

 the crop year. While there may be ample supplies of plant nutrients 

 in the soil through direct applications as manures, it is good agricul- 

 lural judgment to be sure they are there. A year lost in an orchard 

 is exactly the same as a year in one's life lost — the one can be gotten 

 back about as easily as the other. 



Orchards should be regularly manured with materials of a high 

 degree of availability. Barn-yard manure will not do ; its nitrogen is 

 partly available, but the potash and phosphoric acia are not. New 

 wood will be formed in abundance (it is a bearing orchard we have in 

 view), and as little new wood as is consistent with bearing spurs, should 

 be the aim of the agriculturist. There is another point of not less im- 

 portance. Fruit from improperly balanced manuring will not only keep 

 badly, ship badly, but also lack flavor. Try the fruit of an abandoned 

 and unmanured orchard ; it has little distinctive flavor and is generally 

 lacking both in form and color. Manuring is a provision of Provi- 

 dence, not an accidental acquirement of plants. There is the very best 

 reason for its being done or it would not prove of utility. 



A fertilizer of apples should have approximately the following 

 formula : 



Ammonia 



Potash, actual 



Phos. acid, available. 



4 per cent 

 6 per cent 

 2 per cent 



Or, double the figures with higher grade goods, 8, 12 and 4 per cent 

 respectively. The ammonia should be about one-third nitrade of soda 

 and the remainder a good packing-house ammoniate or fish scrap. The 

 potash may be either as kainit or mutriate. The phosphoric is prefer- 

 able as acid phosphate— in this instance, bone is not the equivalent of 

 acid phosphate, though it is such in ordinary tillage crops. Of the 

 fertilizer as tabulated above, about 600 pounds should be used per 

 acre, and well harrowed in. To use less would be to "skimp" the or- 

 chard. S. Peacock. 



Increased Fertility Possible. 



Land properly treated will increase in fertility and in aptness to 

 bring forth fruitfully, because the elements of fertility are being 

 not only gradually developed, but those that are free do progress. 

 Chemical action in soils may unfold the rich treasures thereof and 

 mechanical appliances render their effective aid, but if wrong concep- 

 tions of the use of the land continue, all means used to increase its 

 fertility will leave it more hopelessly exhausted than before. Land was 



