51 



posted with muck is undoubtedly the best, but where that 

 can not be obtained, other materials, such as dried blood, 

 guano, fish scrap, raw bone and the like made into a com- 

 post with muck will answer very well. The amount neces- 

 sary can only be known by trial. 



If the land is poor and sandy, a liberal supply must 

 be used, but if a loam or clay soil which will retain fertili- 

 zers without leaching, less will be required. 



When the tree has been pushed until it begins to bear, 

 a change in the tieatment should be pursued. The tree 

 no longer requires nitrogenous and carbanacious plant 

 food, but such materials as contain potash, phosphoric acid, 

 soda, and sulphuric acid. These materials are contained 

 in all soils which have once grown hard wood timber, and 

 which have a liberal supply of clay in their composition. 

 Such soils are found in high, hard wood hammocks, and 

 they require less attention to fertilizing under any circum- 

 stances. 



The fruit of an orange tree bearing one thousand ordi- 

 nary oranges, will weigh about five hundred pounds; and 

 of this there will be found four pounds of potash, three 

 pounds of soda, one and a half pounds of phosphoric acid, 

 some lime, with tracts of iron and magnesia. All soils 

 contain more or less of these materials under all circum- 

 stances ; but t&iidy, leachy soils are likely to be deficient. 

 Heriec the necessity of annual application of these manu- 

 real substances if we wish to obtain the best results. These 

 elements are most readily found fit for immediate use in 

 the following : Acid superphospate of lime, fine ground 

 bone, wood ashes, sulphate or muriate of potash, sal soda 

 and common salt. An annual dressing of some of these 

 materials which are thought most required, will produce a 

 wonderful effect on the iruitfulness of the grove and 



