150 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



be so flooded with light that the data furnished thereby will 

 be beyond doubt or cavil. 



As the result of a good deal of study in connection with 

 many years of experiment, I am fully persuaded that not 

 less than an annual addition to the acre of average land, 

 in some form, 25 pounds of phosphoric acid, 30 pounds of 

 nitrogen and 75 pounds of potash, together with some lime 

 and magnesia, is absolutely demanded for the production of 

 a full crop of apples ; and that, with such addition only, no 

 removal of other product than the fruit alone is to be tolerated. 

 The relative proportions of these ingredients need not vary 

 materially for other fruits, but the quantity may be profitably 

 increased for the pear and the strawberry. 



In order to meet this demand, I have gradually evolved a 

 formula which for 1891 had the following composition, and, 

 unless new light causes a modification, will be essentially 

 the same for 1892 : — 



Pounds. 



Cotton-seed meal, 200 



Muriate of potash, 140 



Nitrate of soda, ' . . . . 60 



Sulphate of ammonia, 40 



Sulphate of magnesia, 40 



South Carolina floats, 70 



Plaster, 70 



Total, 620 



The net cost of these materials last spring delivered at 

 the railroad station was about $11. 



This is to a considerable extent a theoretical application 

 as regards the amount to be applied, but we have a practical 

 guide for its use or for the use of any other. If an orchard 

 is in a healthy condition there should be a general growth of 

 new wood, from a few inches in old bearing trees up to 

 twelve to eighteen inches in trees carrying their first fruits. 

 The leaves should l>c larffe and of a dark-green color. If 

 the growth is excessive, a portion of the fertilizer may be 

 withheld; but, if it shows the least falling short, the amount 

 should be increased. 



A somewhat near approach to this formula in composition 

 would be found in 20 bushels of good ashes and 200 pounds 

 of nitrate of soda ; but I think it would cost more and be 



