54 BEGINNERS GUIDE TO FRUIT GROWING 



sulphate of potash. The amount of nitrogen to be 

 applied will depend entirely upon the growth the 

 trees are making. If the trees are making a good 

 growth of new wood, all that can well be ripened, 

 no nitrogenous fertilizer need be applied. 



In subsequent years the application of phosphoric 

 acid and potash may be reduced somewhat, and 600 

 to 800 pounds of basic slag meal and 150 to 300 

 pounds of high-grade sulphate of potash may be 

 used to the acre, the amount of potash applied de- 

 pending in a large measure on the character of the 

 soil. Soils rich in clay furnish naturally more 

 potash than sandy soils or those commonly known 

 as loamy soils. 



Young trees during the first two years after plant- 

 ing may be given the following amounts for each 

 tree: 



Nitrate of soda, I ounce 



Basic slag meal, IO ounces 



Low-grade sulphate, 6 ounces 



As the orchard grows these amounts must be 

 gradually increased. And once more it must be 

 emphasized that all such recipes are only sugges- 

 tions and are to be constantly varied according to 

 local and special conditions. In particular, the fruit 

 grower should be ready to give additional applica- 

 tions of nitrate of soda (but not later than June 10) 

 to such trees as are not making sufficient growth. 



Young peach trees may receive the same rations 

 suggested above for young apple trees, but usually 

 it will be wise to give a second ounce of nitrate of 

 soda to each tree a month after the first applica- 

 tion. In some cases the young peach tree can use 

 advantageously one-half pound of nitrate. This 



