HOW TO FERTILIZE. 89 



eat flesh, nor a dog hay ; neither will all trees flourish on 

 the same nutriment. 



Every intelligent horticulturist is aware of this fact, and 

 acts accordingly, being guided in the application of ma- 

 nures by the analysis of the ash of such plants and trees 

 as he cultivates. It is on this principle and on this basis 

 that the "special manures" are manufactured, each con- 

 taining the particular ingredients needed by the particular 

 plants to which it is intended to be applied ; one may need 

 a larger amount of ammonia than the soil naturally fur- 

 nishes, another more phosphates, another more nitrogen. 

 When these special fertilizers are made by honest manu- 

 facturers, they are very valuable aids to the farmers and 

 fruit growers, either used alone or mixed with the compost 

 heap. 



Analysis shows that the ash of the orange tree and fruit 

 contains a large percentage of potash, lime, and phosphoric 

 acid, besides smaller quantities of other mineral ingredi- 

 ents ; hence, these are substances, conjoined with sufficient 

 vegetable matter to retain moisture, that the orange grower 

 must feed to his trees. 



And now, how are these to be obtained ? Easily, and 

 by every man who chooses, for they are all about him in 

 profusion, needing only to be utilized by a provident and 

 thrifty hand. 



Pine land, on which the bulk of the orange crop is 

 raised, is deficient in vegetable humus, which is as necessary 

 to the proper growth and nourishment of the tree as any 

 other ingredient; perhaps more so, since this humus has 

 proven to be the most important vehicle of assimilation of 

 the other foods; for instance, the analysis of a soil may 

 show lime to be needed, and lime is forthwith applied, 

 and without effect; but, powerless to work alone, com- 

 bine it with humus, which, as every one knows, is simply 



