HOW TO GROW AND MARKET FRUIT 



"Phosphoric acid may be obtained in the form of a high- 

 grade plain superphosphate (like dissolved South Carolina 

 rock) in bone compounds, and in Thomas slag. The plain 

 superphosphate contains about 15 to 18 per cent of phosphoric 

 acid. Two hundred to five hundred pounds per acre is a liberal 

 and very useful dressing for bearing orchards. The bone fer- 

 tilizers are always valuable. Those which are untreated give 

 up their phosphoric acid slowly, unless they are very finely 

 ground. Dissolved bone gives more immediate results." 



Thomas phosphate or basic slag is especially valuable, be- 

 cause, in addition to its 15 per cent or more phosphoric acid 

 content, it contains about 40 per cent of lime. Some report 

 that it parts with its fertility very slowly, but this depends 

 upon how finely it is pulverized, and on the kind of soil to which 

 it is applied. If there is much acid in the soil, or slight saltiness, 

 this basic slag phosphoric acid will dissolve quickly and com- 

 pletely. It is especially good on marshy, loamy lands. It is 

 sold at a price which, considering the large amount of plant- 

 food elements it carries, gives cheap phosphoric acid. 



Again from Professor Bailey: " Muriate of potash costs $40 

 and upward per ton, sulfate about $48, dissolved bone-black 

 about $25, ground bone about $30, kainit about $13, and 

 nitrate of soda 2^ cents per pound. These prices vary, of 

 course, with the composition or mechanical condition of the 

 materials. 



"The average composition of unleached ashes in the market 

 is about as follows: Potash, 5.25 per cent; phosphoric acid, 

 1.70 per cent; lime, 34 per cent; magnesia, 3.40 per cent. The 

 average composition of kainit is 13.54 per cent potash, 1.15 

 per cent lime. The composition of sylvinit (which is known 

 as sulfate of potash in some quarters) is about 16 per cent 

 of potash, in the form of both muriate and sulfate, mostly the 

 former." 



The best chemical source from which to get nitrogen is 

 nitrate of soda, which contains 9 to 15 per cent available nitro- 

 gen, or 180 to 300 pounds of available nitrogen in a ton. If 

 legumes are used as they ought to be, little nitrogen need be 

 supplied from any other source, and the nitrogen secured from 

 plants will cost about one-fifth of what it will otherwise. 



When starting to fertilize an orchard, it is often well to use 

 a combination of potash and acid phosphate, with a cover 

 crop, and watch the trees carefully during the growing season. 

 If they show a light color, a small amount of nitrate of soda 

 can be used. 



Suppose your soil has been fed a balanced ration, and now 

 is in good producing condition. If you want to feed trees in 

 such a soil, a fertilizer containing one and a half to two per 

 cent of nitrogen, two or three per cent of available phosphoric 

 acid and 10 to 12 per cent of potash, will give excellent results 

 when applied in quantities ranging from 400 to 600 pounds to 

 the acre. This means a complete, ready-mixed fertilizer. The 

 different elements can be purchased and applied separately 

 if that would be cheaper. 



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