PEAR GROWING IN CALIFORNIA. 325 



st;it ions, and experience in the use of manure by fruit growers have 

 proven that there is nothing more valuable for the fertilization of 

 the ordinary orchard soils than barnyard manure. The use of the 

 automobile, auto trucks and tractors has limited the supply of horses 

 on our modern farms to such an extent that the supply of manure is 

 much less than ever before and the orchardist who can secure it in 

 any quantity is very fortunate. In some cases it is possible and when 

 available there is nothing' that will bring better results. 



COMMERCIAL FERTILIZERS. 



Commercial fertilizers are rapidly assuming a place of great impor- 

 tance in orchard work. Nitrate of soda, bone meal, dried blood, guano, 

 muriate of potash, potassium nitrate and sulphur each possesses merits 

 as a fertilizer. Nitrate of soda is the most commonly used, and without 

 doubt the most satisfactory commercial fertilizer at the present time. 

 In quantities of from 150 to 200 pounds per acre, scattered evenly 

 over the surface or drilled into the soil in the spring, it has considerable 

 value in the pear orchard where the soil is depleted and trees are 

 doing poorly because of a lack of nitrogen. The fertilizer value 

 of sulphur was not recognized until recently when Prof. F. C. Reimer 

 of the Talent Experiment Station in Oregon discovered that when used 

 on alfalfa this element would result in a tremendous increase in produc- 

 tion. Previously it had not been considered necessary to plant growth. 

 Its value in the case of alfalfa indicates that it will be beneficial if ap- 

 plied to other plants and while we have no records indicating that it is 

 valuable as an orchard fertilizer its use in the form of gypsum (calcium 

 sulphate) is to be recommended, when the gypsum may, in addition to 

 its value in supplying a requisite amount of lime to the soil, also add 

 sulphur to the benefit of the trees. 



INTERCROPS. 



During the period from the time of planting until the pear trees 

 come into profitable bearing, which is ordinarily seven or eight years, 

 it is often necessary for the owner of an orchard to grow crops between 

 the trees in order to help keep up the expenses of development. There 

 is no real objection that can be made to intercrops provided the soil is 

 good, the proper crops are chosen, and there is sufficient moisture present 

 throughout the season, either normally or from irrigation, so that the 

 trees will not suffer. An orchard when planted represents a permanent 

 investment which is to last during a lifetime or longer. Hence the trees 

 should always receive the first consideration. With these facts in mind 

 intercrops of beans or peas, tomatoes, cantaloupes, corn, potatoes or 

 other vegetables, or strawberries, can be grown at a good profit. Beans 

 or peas are mentioned first because they are legumes and instead of 

 depleting the soil they may have a beneficial effect in the addition of 

 nitrogen. Annual crops are to be preferred to perennial crops in the 

 young orchard. Alfalfa is sometimes grown and cut for hay. This 

 practice can not be recommended, for unless the water supply for irriga- 

 tion is abundant there is usually a condition of drought such as to inter- 

 fere seriously with the best development of the trees. Young pear 

 orchards have been seen in the Sacramento Valley with the foliage yel- 



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