164 Peach-Growing 



Based on the general response of the trees to the different 

 fertilizer applications under the conditions that existed in 

 the orchards where these experiments were conducted in 

 West Virginia, Alderman says : 



"The commercial peach industry of West Virginia is at 

 present confined almost wholly to a few counties in the East- 

 ern Panhandle and, broadly speaking, includes only two 

 general types of soil — shale and chert. In the writer's ex- 

 perience the chert lands when reasonably well cared for do 

 not require artificial fertilization. They are, however, of 

 comparatively recent development and in time may become 

 exhausted to the point where feeding will be necessary. The 

 shale lands upon which most of the commercial orchards 

 stand present a serious problem. The writer is convinced 

 that thousands of dollars have been thrown away by or- 

 chardists on that type of soil through misdirected applica- 

 tions of fertilizers running high in phosphoric acid and potash. 

 From the result of our four years of experimentation and from 

 reports from neighboring states we unhesitatingly recommend 

 for bearing trees the application of 200 to 250 pounds of 

 nitrate of soda (or equivalent amount of nitrogen in some 

 readily available form) per acre for shale soil. For young 

 trees we would suggest little or no fertilizer the first year, 

 but after that one-half pound of nitrate of soda per tree 

 until its fourth year, when the application may be doubled. 

 We believe that the same treatment will be effective on other 

 poor soils throughout the state, although this has not yet 

 been definitely determined. 



"The practical point at once arising is, can the expensive 

 nitrogen be supplied as effectively and more cheaply by the 

 use of leguminous cover-crops? It seems reasonable to 

 believe this to be the case. Crimson clover, winter vetch, 



