136 FIRST PRINCIPLES OF AGRICULTURE. 



tree and fruit is, too, dependent upon the nutrition stored 

 up in the bud and branches, as well as that which may 

 be derived directly from the soil. 



Soils that are naturally well adapted for fruit- 

 growing must possess a good physical character; that 

 is, they must be sufficiently open and porous to permit 

 the penetration and growth of the roots, as well as a 

 free movement of air and water, and they must contain 

 nitrogen and the mineral constituents, lime, potash, and 

 phosphoric acid, in considerable amounts. 



The first object should be to secure a good tree, though 

 it is not wood growth alone that should be kept in mind, 

 but the kind of growth as well ; that is, it must not only 

 be vigorous, but well matured. Well-grown trees some- 

 times produce poor fruit, but poor trees never produce 

 good fruit. 



Manures for Fruits. In the first place, there should 

 be sufficient nitrogen to provide for an abundant leaf 

 growth early in the season, since the tree and fruit are 

 dependent for food both upon the leaves and upon the 

 roots. There should be an abundance of potash and phos- 

 phoric acid and lime, in order to secure a normal and 

 solid growth of stem and branch, which carry the fruit- 

 spurs, and the food necessary for their first development 

 in the spring, as well as to provide for the proper growth 

 and ripening of the fruit. 



