FERTILIZERS AND FERTILIZING. 3Q9 



be present in goodly quantities in the soil to secure 

 best results 1' 1:0111 its use. 



Some have said, and perffaps on good grounds so f 

 as some crops are concerned, that it does not matter from 

 what source the three important plant foods are derived. 

 While this may apply to some crops and some fruits, of 

 citrus it is not true. They reflect the food supply; they 

 may be thin-skinned, heavy and juicy through the use of 

 the proper materials and the very flavor may be influenced 

 by the materials used as fertilizer. On the other hand, 

 they may be thick-skinned, full of rag, insipid and lack- 

 ing in character, owing to the use of poorly balanced 

 fertilizers. The tree itself may come to an untimely end 

 through the persistent use of rank organic sources of ni- 

 trogen. 



Formulas. A number of years ago it was very diffi- 

 cult to secure fertilizer from any except domestic sources. 

 Now, however, various brands of fertilizers for use on 

 citrus trees are placed on the market. Many of these 

 give excellent results and annually bear testimony to 

 the scrupulous care exercised in their preparation. Still 

 there is no question but that in these brands the cost 

 per unit of plant food is greater than in the raw mate- 

 rials. Even after making allowance for the cost of mix- 

 ing and sacking there still remains a substantial bal 

 ance in favor of the raw material. Excellent results 

 have been obtained from the use of formulas made up 

 by growers themselves. These results, together with the 

 difference in cost, has led to the use of home mixtures on 

 the part of many. Much may be said both for and against 

 them, but on the whole they are to be advised rather than 

 condemned. 



