FERTILIZING PEACHES 



Phosphoric acid favors the early maturity of the trees 

 and, together with potash, forces them to come into bearing 

 at an earlier date. Orchard experiments have demon- 

 strated that a year or more of difference in the maturity 

 and bearing period of fruit trees can be brought about by 

 a generous application of soluble phosphoric acid in com- 

 bination with potash, other conditions being uniform. 



Plants do not come into early maturity and do not 

 produce seeds and fruit unless amply supplied with phos- 

 phoric acid. The ripening effect of phosphoric acid is 

 just the reverse of that of available nitrogen, which, when 

 too abundantly supplied, prolongs the season of growth and 

 retards the process of maturity. 



Available phosphoric acid in connection with potash, 

 generously used, assists in increasing the proportion of 

 fruit to wood growth, which action is again the reverse of 

 the effect produced by nitrogen. 



Potash is chiefly concerned in the formation of 

 carbohydrates, promotes the growth of stems 

 and leaves, influences the development of the fleshy parts of 

 the fruit, affects the life activities of the plant cells, is con- 

 cerned in the elaboration of protoplasm, exerts a whole- 

 some effect on the production of plant acid thereby improv- 

 ing the flavor, and assists plants to withstand the inroads of 



Ten 



