MANAGEMENT 53 



Basic slag meal, 400-500 pounds 



Low-grade sulphate of potash, 300 pounds 

 In years when the orchard is bearing a good crop 

 there should be added to this allowance 75 to 100 

 pounds of nitrate of soda. 



Another formula, proposed by Geo. D. Leavens, 

 fertilizer expert, is as follows : 



Basic slag meal, 1,500 pounds 



High-grade sulphate of potash, 300-500 pounds 

 Nitrate of soda, 200-400 pounds 



This is a much more liberal treatment and is de- 

 signed for an orchard in full bearing. It is espe- 

 cially understood further that the nitrate of soda 

 must be used with great caution. 



An old orchard, just being taken up from the sod 

 and the sod turned under, needs to be handled with 

 some care. The growth of new wood may have 

 been very slight in previous years and yet the turn- 

 ing under and decay of the sod in the soil will result 

 in furnishing nitrogen sufficient in all probability to 

 force considerable new growth. Therefore, the ap- 

 plication of nitrogenous fertilizers should be with- 

 held in such cases. In other cases, where the new 

 growth is needed and is not being made, from IOO 

 to 150 pounds of nitrate of soda to the acre will 

 generally furnish a sufficient amount of nitrogen. 

 It is best to be conservative in the application of 

 nitrate of soda to orchards. A first application of 

 loo pounds, followed by another supplementary 

 application, if needed, is probably the wiser course. 

 Mr. Leavens, who is responsible for these figures, 

 suggests, also, that the orchard should receive the 

 first year, if it has had little or no fertilization previ- 

 ous to this application, 800 to 1000 pounds of basic 

 slag meal, and 300 to 400 pounds of high-grade 



