316 CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



in the soil and the amount of nitrogen supplied by the 

 cover crop, if one be grown. 



On poor soils a pound or two of the fertilizer used 

 for young trees should be incorporated with the soil at 

 the time of planting. If the trees are set in winter an 

 additional pound should be given in June. The second 

 year the amount to the tree should be increased as the 

 trees will be well established and can use more to advan- 

 tage. Each succeeding year the amount must be in- 

 creased, never allowing the trees to become stunted or 

 to assume a starved appearance. It is better to antici- 

 pate their needs than to wait until they are badly in need 

 of food. 



Where a leguminous cover crop is grown, the amount 

 of nitrogen may be lessened and on all soils rich in cer- 

 tain plant food, those which are present in sufficient quan- 

 tities should be omitted in the fertilizer applied. If it is 

 noted that the trees are growing too vigorously, the 

 amount of nitrogen should be decreased. In case of die 

 back, nitrogen should not be used and the actual amount 

 of potash and phosphoric acid may be increased to good 

 advantage. 



When the trees begin to fruit, the formula should 

 be changed to one for fruit and the formula for growth 

 may be applied at any time it is seen that the trees are 

 not adding sufficient new wood. Trees producing ten 

 boxes of fruit on Florida soil should receive about thirty 

 or thirty-five pounds per tree. This same proportion 

 may be preserved for each ten boxes of fruit. It may be 

 noted that the pomelo is an exceedingly vigorous grower 

 and can use more fertilizer to advantage than some 

 other kinds of citrus. 



