48 STATE POMULOGICAL SOCIETY. 



ORCHARD FERTILrZERS. 



By Prof. Walter Balentine, State College. 



In collecting data for a paper on fertilizers for orchards the writer 

 was struck with the unanimity of opinion among orchardists, that 

 the most satisfactory results are obtained b}' the liberal use of stable 

 manure. The well known value of this material in the production 

 of general farm crops would naturally lead one to the conclusion that 

 it would be equally beneficial to the orchard ; for the same nutritive 

 elements are needed for the growth of a tree and its fruit as are 

 required for the production of a crop of grain, hay or roots. And 

 the orchardist who has at command a sufficient amount of stable 

 manure at a low cost is not hkely to make a mistake in using it for 

 his fruit trees. But there are many owners of orchards who are so 

 situated as to render the use of stable manure impracticable. These 

 are anxiously inquiring for manures from other sources. The}^ are 

 well aware that commercial fertilizers are expensive and that the}' 

 need to be used understandingly in order that they may be profitable. 



Commercial fertilizers, however, are the only alternative ; and this 

 renders a discussion of commercial fertilizers for the orchard 

 imperative. 



In discussing the question of manures the fundamental facts have 

 been stated by lectures on this subject over and over again from one 

 end of the State to the other, yet at the risk of being accused of 

 "threshing over old straw," the privilege is taken of restating them 

 here. They are these. All plants require that the following sub- 

 stances be furnished them through their roots, namely, potash, mag- 

 nesia, lime, iron, phosphoric acid, chlorine and combined nitrogen. 

 Other elements are taken up by the roots of plants but those named 

 are essential. Fortunately onl}^ three of these substances are often 

 found deficient in soils and those are potash, phosphoric acid and 

 nitrogen. 



The ash of all fruits is rich in potash and phosphoric acid. 

 Wolff's tables gives for the 



Potash. Phosphoric Acid. 



Apple 35.7 per cent. 13.6 per cent. 



Pear 54.7 '^ 15.3 " 



Cherry 51.9 '' 16.0 



Plum 59.2 " 15.1 " 



