186 



somewhat in accord with the amount of fruit set. In other 

 words, one can reduce the applications when the crop is 

 light, because enough fruit buds are naturally formed under 

 such conditions, and they may then be increased when the 

 crop is large, so as to avoid a complete failure in the fol- 

 lowing year. The mineral fertilizers can be applied any 

 time and hence we apply them along with the nitrates. 

 Manure also may be applied almost any time, excepting 

 possibly late summer and fall, without danger of apprecia- 

 ble loss or ill effects. 



J\s to method of application, we have simply scattered 

 thf ^'-ertilizer broadcast around the trees, applying it heav- 

 iest under the outer two-thirds of the spread of the branches 

 ancf grading it off more lightly for several feet beyond. It 

 may then either be left on the surface to be washed in by 

 the rains or it may be harrowed or lightly plowed into the 

 soil. With this done, the results must not be expected 

 until the following year at the earliest, and it may be even 

 later before important results appear. 



ADJUSTING THE FERTILIZER TO PARTICULAR 



ORCHARDS. 



Not all orchards will respond to fertilization, and those 

 that do will not always respond to the same elements. If 

 one desires to find out just which of the ingredients of our 

 general formula is most important in his own orchard, and 

 which if any may well be reduced or 'omitted, he can do so 

 by following the local testing plan given in Table VII,. This 

 plan is especially adapted to the needs of commercial or- 

 chardists and to "Community' tests among the smaller 

 growers. A test of this kind naturally requires some work, 

 but as yet it is the only way that one can become really 

 acquainted with the exact needs of his orchard, and where 

 the income from it is important, the time thus spent should 

 be most profitable. 



