FOOD REQUIREMENTS OF CROPS 271 



poorly grown and partially developed trees. In order 

 to promote growth, a liberal supply of a complete ferti- 

 lizer should be used, and the soil should be kept in the 

 best mechanical condition. When an orchard is in full 

 bearing, there is as heavy a draft upon the soil as when 

 a wheat crop is grown. 90 To meet this, farm manures 

 and commercial fertilizers should be used liberally. 

 The productive period of an orchard is materially 

 lengthened by judicious use of fertilizers. The quality 

 of the fruit is often adversely affected by a scant supply 

 of plant food. A quick acting fertilizer, containing 

 kainit, nitrate of soda, and dissolved phosphate rock, 

 should be used in the spring, followed if necessary by 

 a light dressing of some manure which yields up its 

 fertility more slowly. An excess of nitrogen, however, 

 should be avoided. Stone fruits are benefited by the 

 addition of lime to the fertilizer. Lime fertilizers impart 

 hardiness to fruit trees. 



326. Small Fruits. On account of the comparatively 

 limited bearing period of small fruits, the land should 

 be brought to a high state of productiveness and 

 good physical condition by liberal use of farm manures 

 previous to planting. Quick acting fertilizers are the 

 most suitable for small fruits. Dressings of nitrate of 

 soda, 50 to 100 pounds per acre, can be applied early in 

 the season to promote leaf activity. This should be 

 followed by an application of a general fertilizer con- 

 taining about 3 per cent of available nitrogen, 8 per 



