SPECIFIC NUTRITION. 477 



Specific Nutrition. R. G. Pardee, of Palmyra, N. Y., says : " I 

 fertilize the plants, on opening of Spring, with a liberal sprinkling 

 of a solution of one-fourth of a pound each of sulphate of potassium, 

 Glauber salts, and sal soda, and one ounce of muriate ammonia, to 

 eight gallons of water ; continue this once a week, or ten days, until 

 they blossom ; then pure cold water until they ripen." 



An old recipe, published in the " Friends' Review," Philadelphia, 

 says that " a bed 30 feet by 40 should have applied, about once a 

 week, for three times, commencing when the green leaves first begin 

 to start, and making the last application just before the plants are in 

 *iill bloom, the following preparation : " Of nitre, of potash, of 

 Glauber's salt, and sal soda, each one pound ; of nitrate of ammonia, 

 one-quarter of a pound, dissolved in thirty gallons of rain or river 

 water, one-third applied at a time, and the application made at 

 evening." If dry weather, free application of clear soft water 

 should be made between the times of using the preparation. 

 Throughout most of the Western soils there is, as yet, no necessity 

 for specific application of food to the strawberry, except it may be in 

 old gardens. For field, or market culture, new clover-lye will be 

 found better than specific manures on old grounds. The applying 

 specific nutrition in solution to all fruit-bearing plants, undoubtedly 

 increases their susceptibility, while it increases the vigor, and foliage, 

 and size of fruit ; yet we doubt the success of such increased action 

 in the soils of the Western States, as combined with the great 

 changes of climate. On the other hand, we advise such course as 

 will rather check than enhance vigor. We append analysis of the 

 Strawberry plant, made by Mr. Bilius Kirtland, for guidance of 

 those whose grounds have become exhausted, and who prefer this 

 method : 



GARDEN STRAWBERRY. 



In one hundred and sixteen grains of the ashes : 



Grains. 



Silica 6.117 



Charcoal and Sand 3.103 



Perphosphate of Iron ,. 1.515 



Lime 26 539 



Magnesia 8.908 



Sulphuric Acid 1.469 



Phosphoric Acid 6.970 



Chlorine - 708 



Potash : 33.154 



Soda 2.790 



Carbonic Acid , 23.008 



Organic matter and loss , 1 .739 



116.020 



