FK UTILIZERS FOR FRUITS 



815 



These conclusions are somewhat revolutionary, but I believe that 

 they iiiny he properly deducted from the experiments discussed, 

 that they are substantiated by experiments elsewhere and that 

 they are abundantly confirmed in fruit-growing experiences. 



I cannot close without further emphasizing the importance in 

 orcharding of paying attention to all the factors which contribute 

 to plant growth as well as to the supply of food. Such factors as 

 moisture, soil temperature, aeration and the texture of the soil 

 must not be neglected. Any of these, or any combination of them, 

 as well as the supply of food, may be the factor which limits the 

 yield in an apple orchard. Moisture is often the limiting factor. 

 - in my opinion most often the limiting factor carrying away 

 plant foods in open soils and restricting the root run on heavy 

 soils; in either case the plant may starve although food be present, 

 because there is not opportunity for the plant to take up the nutri- 

 tive solution in sufficient quantity. It is only when the water 

 supply is perfectly adjusted that there can be a fair test of the 

 plant food resources of a soil. The same is true in a lesser degree 

 of the other factors named. 



