FERTILIZING PEACHES 



diseases. Potash is therefore of paramount importance 

 to the peach grower because the soils on which best results 

 are secured from this crop, are usually of a type most 

 markedly deficient in potash, and in the absence of this 

 element in a quickly soluble form many ills are likely to 

 afflict his orchard, which might otherwise be avoided. 



Owing to the important function of potash it is well to 

 consider in greater detail the action of this element as 

 related to the development and production of the peach. 

 In the absence of potash the process of assimilation by 

 which the elementary constituents, carbon, hydrogen, and 

 oxygen, are transformed into carbohydrates ceases. Exam- 

 ples of carbohydrates are starch, sugar, and cellulose. 

 Potash is not only concerned in the formation of these 

 compounds, but it is also concerned in the transfer of starch 

 from one part of the plant to another. Starch is chiefly 

 formed in the leaves of the plant and is then insoluble. 

 To change it into the various soluble compounds, which 

 enable them to pass through the cell walls and be carried 

 into the fruit or seed, is one of the important functions per- 

 formed by potash. Therefore, if potash is deficient the 

 growth of the tree is seriously retarded and its ability to 

 produce fruit materially lessened. 



Potash compounds are important in plant nutrition 

 because they exert a marked effect upon the development of 



