12 



Young trees on fairly good soil should receive no fertilizers or 

 manure, if the land is kept under constant cultivation, until they have 

 set a crop of fruit. A cover crop of peas and barley sown in August 

 to keep the land from washing and to supply some plant food has 

 been found of great value in all orchards under cultivation. The 

 advantage of this crop is that it can be sown late in the season after 

 the growth of the trees has been completed. It grows late in the 

 season, produces a large crop of organic matter which prevents 

 loss of ammonia while the peas in addition absorb it from the 

 atmosphere. This cover crop can be easily turned under in the 

 spring when cultivation begins and will largely supply the plant 

 food needed for the growth of the trees. 



FERTILIZERS FOR OTHER FRUITS. 



Fertilizers of a similar composition to those mentioned above are 

 to be recommended for all other fruits, but there are so many vary- 

 ing conditions of soil and previous fertilization and cultivation that 

 it is impossible to make an exact formula that will app'y equally 

 well to all fruit plantations. In a general way we may say that for 

 all perennial fruits (trees, shrubs or plants,) the fertilizers that are 

 largely available in the early part of the season (i. e. quickly sol- 

 uble) will produce a more mature and firmer growth, that will with- 

 stand the cold better than a growth produced by fertilizers that are 

 available all through the season. The amount and kind of fertili- 

 zers that will give the best result must be determined by the condi- 

 tion of the crop, previous to applications. If the trees or plants are 

 growing slowly, the fruit being small and of poor quality a larger 

 amount must be used than if the growth be vigorous and the fruit of 

 fine quality. For those trees or plants that are liable to injury from 

 cold the nitrate of soda will be found especially valuable with of 

 course sufficient potash and phosforic acid to make a complete 

 growth. 



A formula that will prove generally satisfactory for fruits is one 

 containing about 3% of nitrogen, 7% of phosforic acid, and 8 

 or 9% of potash applied at the rate of from one-half ton to one ton 

 per acre according to the growth of the crop and previous fertiliza- 

 tion. This would be best made up of about, 



Nitrate of Soda, 150 to 300 lbs. 



S. C. Rock rhosfate or Acid Phosfate, 500 to 1000 lbs. 



Sulfate of Potash, 150 to 300 lbs. 



