Food for generally find profitable for all crops. It will be found 

 quite satisfactory also in its after-effect in perceptibly sweet- 

 enins: sour land. 



no 



t3 



Orange Groves. 



An orange that weighs a pound would sell in New York 

 for a dime. When it takes six to weigh a pound they are 

 worthless. 



Satisfactory results have been obtained in Florida by 

 fertilizing during the cold season. About two months 

 before the period of growth begins, apply for each full 

 grown tree a mixture of 7 pounds of high-grade super- 

 phosphate and 7 pounds of sulphate of potash, by working 

 it in the soil; after which one pound of Nitrate of Soda 

 may be sown on the surface. In order to accomplish this 

 application economically, it is well to mix the Nitrate with 

 two or three times the quantity of fine, dry soil before 

 applying. The working of the soil must not be so deep or 

 thorough as to start the growth of the tree. An excess of 

 Nitrate is to be avoided, but the amount mentioned is not 

 too much. All other ammoniates on the market must be 

 converted into Nitrate by weathering and the action of the 

 soil bacteria before they can possibly be available for plant 

 food. Nitrate of Soda is a pre-digested ammoniate, and 

 while there is some danger of loss by leaching, this is easily 

 avoided by the use of small and frequent applications. 

 With sulphate of ammonia the danger is much greater, as 

 it must be converted into Nitrate before it is available as 

 food, and during this comparatively long process may all be 

 lost by rains and leaching. 



Dried blood, cotton-seed meal and all other ammoniates, 

 if .sed in such quantities as to afford an adequate supply 

 of Nitrate, may cause die-back. No disease results from 

 the proper use of Nitrate of Soda. Besides the possible 

 losses indicated, when other ammoniates are used, there is 

 an actual loss of Nitrogen during the process of Nitration, 

 and all ammoniates must undergo Nitration — must be 

 Nitrated before living trees or plants will feed on them. 

 From six weeks to two months after the above appli- 



