FERTILIZERS 



FERTILIZERS 



1223 



lime may sometimes interfere with the growth of the 

 Norway spruce. It is also unfavorable to at least 

 some of the pines. The effect of liming on certain of 

 these conifers is observable not only by way of its 

 lessening the growth of the tree, but also by its causing 

 a shortening of the needles. 



The chestnut tree is reputed not to need liming, but 

 even to be seriously injured, if lime is used. 



Among the flowering shrubs, general experience 

 points to the fact that lime should be avoided in con- 

 nection with the growth of the laurels, rhododendrons, 

 azaleas and the Ericace generally. There is, however, 

 no doubt as to the benefit to be derived from the use 

 of lime in connection with many of the other ornamental 

 and flowering shrubs. Experiments by Hogenson 

 appear to show that sulfate of magnesia may some- 

 times be very helpful to certain shrubs which are 

 ordinarily injured by lime, although this work needs to 

 be extensively supplemented before being accepted as 

 a sure basis of procedure. 



In general, the need of nitrogen for trees and shrubs 

 is indicated by insufficient limb and leaf growth, 

 although any other lacking essential ingredient may 

 ultimately have the same limiting effect. 



Whenever trees or shrubs are being set in poor land, 

 it is well to work into the soil generous amounts of 

 ground, steamed bone or superphosphate. The latter 

 phosphate possesses, however, a very distinct advan- 

 tage for subsequent application, due to its high con- 

 tent of soluble phosphoric acid. Basic slag meal should 

 be avoided for those trees and shrubs likely to be 

 injured by lime, whereas for others it may be employed 

 at the time of planting. These materials may be used 

 when the trees or shrubs are set, if well mixed with the 

 soil, and from one to four pounds may be used for 

 a tree or shrub, according to their size. 



High-grade sulfate of potash or muriate of potash 

 may be similarly worked into the soil at the rate of 

 half a pound to a pound a tree when potash is known 

 to be deficient, but even in such cases it is sometimes 

 advisable to withhold it until a year after setting, and 

 then make the application alone, in conjunction with 

 superphosphate, or in a complete fertilizer. Twice 

 as much double manure salt or four times as much 

 kainit is required to replace either the sulfate or the 

 muriate of potash. 



If the growth is not satisfactory, after the trees or 

 shrubs have been set for some time, a complete fertilizer 

 containing from 2 to 4 per cent of ammonia, from suita- 

 ble sources, may be worked into the soil about the trees 

 or shrubs, or it may even be scattered on the surface 

 of the ground, in case the land is kept in grass. 



Care should be taken to keep the fertilizer away 

 from the base of the trees or shrubs, and it should be 

 applied for at least a considerable distance beyond the 

 reach of the branches. For this purpose, quantities of 

 fertilizers, ranging from two to thirty-five pounds, may 

 be used for each tree, according to its kind, size and age, 

 although even for large shrubs, from two to six pounds 

 will usually be sufficient. 



Just as the keen observation of the feeder is neces- 

 sary in the fattening of the animal, so also the judg- 

 ment of the experienced gardener is essential to the 

 proper gaging of the amounts of fertilizer for trees 

 and shrubs of all kinds. 



Much is claimed, by those who have had experience 

 in renovating old trees, for the plan of making a large 

 number of holes under the tree, to a depth of 1 foot to 

 2 }/2 or 3 feet, and placing the fertilizer in these holes. 

 This procedure has much justification, owing to the 

 great "fixing" power of the soil, especially for phos- 

 phoric acid and potash salts which are otherwise pre- 

 vented from being quickly and readily carried down in 

 large quantities to points where the deeper roots can 

 immediately reach them. Even if fertilizer is employed 

 in this manner it is also well to apply some of it to the 



surface, in order to insure an even lateral distribution 

 of at least a part of it. 



Another drastic method of procedure in renovating 

 old trees is to trench around a part or the whole of the 

 tree, at a suitable distance from the trunk, to a depth 

 of several feet, and then fill the trenches with new soil 

 mixed with manure and a complete fertilizer contain- 

 ing slowly-acting phosphatic and nitrogenous materials, 

 and suitable amounts of potash salts. In such a case it 

 is a part of the plan to cut off many of the ends of the 

 old roots in order to make them branch and thus 

 increase their feeding capacity. 



Apples and pears. 



Apple trees, as a rule, respond to liming rather 

 better than pear trees; nevertheless, on very acid soils 

 there are several good reasons for liming even pear 

 trees. An occasional application of magnesian lime 

 may be desirable, but if used it should be alternated 

 with applications of purer lime. 



On land known to be very rich naturally, or which 

 has been highly manured for a series of years, neither 

 fertilizer nor manure will be required for newly set 

 apple or pear trees, and in only exceptional cases 

 will they be needed, even for those just coming into 

 bearing. When such exceptional conditions do not exist, 

 it is usually a safer plan to fertilize the land with liberal 

 amounts of potash, phosphoric acid, and rather slowly 

 available sources of nitrogen, or else to employ such 

 small amounts of quickly available nitrogen as will 

 surely be used up before or by midsummer. If, on the 

 other hand, excessive amounts of farmyard manure or 

 nitrogenous fertilizers are applied, or if the application 

 is too long delayed, late growth is promoted, with the 

 result that the wood remains too soft. In such cases 

 cracking and other serious injury is likely to follow 

 during the winter season. 



As a rule, the orchard may be used to advantage for 

 some years after the trees are set, for the growing of 

 quick-maturing crops, such as peas, early cabbages, 

 radishes, and potatoes, or even for tomatoes, melons, 

 or squashes. These crops may be well fertilized, and 

 many of the earlier ones can be followed in the late 

 summer by a cover-crop of crimson (scarlet) clover, or 

 hairy vetch. If the soil is already rich enough, or is 

 too rich, in nitrogen, barley or rye may be substituted 

 for the legumes. These cover-crops can then be plowed 

 under the next spring. Some growers even prefer weeds 

 to any of these cover-crops because of saving the outlay 

 for seed. 



When the stage is passed in which extended cropping 

 between the trees is possible, and the burden of fruit 

 becomes great, especial care should be taken to apply 

 an abundance of potash and phosphoric acid annually, 

 and only enough nitrogen from legumes or fertilizers to 

 insure adequate foliage, satisfactory wood-growth, and 

 abundant fruit-spurs. For this purpose a suitably com- 

 pounded complete fertilizer may be employed. If 

 legumes are found to supply enough nitrogen one may 

 employ annually from 200 to 600 pounds an acre of 

 acid phosphate or basic slag meal, and from 50 to 400 

 pounds an acre of the muriate or high-grade sulfate 

 of potash. If the double manure salt is used as the 

 source of potash instead of the muriate or the high- 

 grade sulfate of potash, the total application should 

 amount to approximately twice as much an acre, 

 because of its lower potash content. 



The nitrogen for the orchard may be supplied in one, 

 or, on light open soils, in two applications of nitrate 

 of soda at such a rate that the total application for a 

 season will not exceed from 100 to 300 pounds an acre, 

 dependent upon the slowness of the growth of the 

 trees. It is usually much simpler to make a single 

 application of a complete fertilizer, in which the nitro- 

 gen is present in nitrates, ammonium salts, soluble 

 organic compounds and in less quickly available 



