85 



leaves and wood require and contain also large quantities, and much 

 more plant food must be givfcn. With a complete manure another 

 advantage is that the rind is 22.5 per cent, less than where no 

 manure was given Professor Woodbridge also states that although 

 a soil may be rich in not available potash, quantities of Stassfurt 

 potash salts were needed for good crops. At Dumville Grove, in 

 Florida, a lemon-tree that yielded from 8 to 10 boxes a year received 

 during three successive years in three equal divisions each year, 48 

 llj. sulphate of potash-magnesia, 25 Ib. sulphate of ammonia, and 

 27 Ib. acid phosphate of 18 per cent. Previously, until eight years 

 old, the trees received only 5 Ib. of the above mixture. The fer- 

 tilisers were put into a ditch around the tree nearly 1 ft! deep, and 

 covered with water. Oranges received at Dumville Grove the same 

 quantity of potash, only 16 Ib. of sulphate of ammonia, and 36 Ib. 

 <cf acid phosphate of 14 per cent. The application was the same. 

 When young the trees received 5 Ib. of the mixture ; after the sixth 

 year, I'D Ib. It appears from the above that my lemon-tress died 

 pi obably 20 and 22 years after planting from want of plant food and 

 excessive fruiting. 



The quality of oranges being so important, I give the following : 



Percentage 



Cent of Total Sugar of Increase of 



Fertiliser j-er Acre. Fertiliser. in Juice. Sugar. 



Nothing 8.37 



20 Ib. nitrogen 12/9 10.64 27.1 



50 Ib. phosphoric acid ... 12/ 10.77 28.6 



75 Ib. potash 19/6 9.80 17. 



20 Ib. nitrogen, 50 Ib. 



phosphoric acid ... 24/9 9.55 14. 



20 Ib. nitrogen, 75 Ib. potash 32/3 10.64 27.1 



50 Ib. phosphoric acid, 75 Ib. 



potash 31/6 11.38 35.9 



Dung 9.90 18. 



20 Ib. nitrogen, 50 Ib. phos- 

 phoric acid, 75 Ib. potash 44/3 11.52 37.6 



In the United States a fertiliser is used, consisting of 4 per 

 cent, ammonia, 5 to 6 per cent, phosphoric acid, and 13 per cent. 

 potash, spread broadcast twice a year, with great results. 



To make the fruit of oranges sweet, juicy, and of fine flavor, 

 potash and phosphoric acid are necessary ; an excess of nitrogen 

 produces much wood, but coarse, thick-skinned, late-ripening fruit, 

 with little sugar or aroma, and it does not keep well. A good crop 

 takes from the soil equivalent to 220 Ib. of lime per acre, 325 Ib. 

 of nitrate of soda. 310 Ib. of a phosphatic manure, and 96 7b. of sul- 

 phate of potash (in preference to muriate of potash) per acre, and 

 these fertilising quantities, with much more phosphoric acid, 

 may be required for old trees, according to Senor Alino, F.R.H.S. 

 of Valencia, Spain, who also warns orchardists not to spread 

 the fertiliser, nor give water too near the trunk of orange-trees. The 

 tiourishment of the orange is required to be continuous, as its sap 



