580 FERTILIZATION 



t-f. Fig. 816) fuses with the nucleus of the egg ( 9, Fig. 

 81()), and fertilization is complete. The other, hereto- 

 fore supposed to be disorganized, is now said to fuse 

 with the endosperm nucleus (e, Fig. 816). The fer- 

 tilize'd egg begins at once to grow and forms the em- 



eiulosperni im -, n-; :.. i,^ i i I. y fusion of 



sac. c^, mule nucleus, wliifh lius just migrated from 

 pollen tube and is about to fuse with 9, the egg 

 nucleus. The synergidse have disappeared. Magni- 

 fied 670 diameters. 



bryo, while the endosperm nucleus divides and forms 

 cells in which food may be stored for the embryo when 

 it resumes growth at the time of germination. 



FEETILIZERS. There is c.i 

 fairly well established by exi 

 namely, that fruits, flowers and ' 

 by the intelligent application of : 



be classified for purposes of fertilization according to 

 their period of growth, the first class including the peren- 

 nial fruits and flowers, and the second, the annual flowers 

 and \-egetables. Those of the first class differ from or- 

 dinary crops in that a longer season of preparation is 

 required, during which time the growth is vegetative 

 rather than productive, though upon this vegetative 

 growth depends the quality and value of the fruit or 

 flower obtained. The growth of both tree and fruit is 

 dependent, too, not only upon the food acquired during 

 its year of growth, but also upon that previously ac- 

 quired, and which has been stored up in bud and 

 branches. 



The tree fruits include apples, pears, peaches, plums, 

 cherries, apricots, etc. It may be regarded as a safe 

 assumption that the fertility elements, phosphoric acid, 



FERTILIZERS 



potash and lime, contribute materially to the proper 

 growth and hardening of the wood, as well as the matu- 

 ration of the fruit. The nece.'ssity for added nitrogen 

 is, on the whole, much less ; it should be applied as 

 the need for it appears in tlie lack of vigor of the tree. 



In the next place, it is safe to assume that the mate- 

 rials wliich furnish these elements or constituents in 

 slowly available forms are liable to be quite as useful, 

 e.wept under special conditions, as those which are 

 quickly available, because the tree growing continuously, 

 though slowly, is able to obtain from the gradually dis- 

 solving substances a sufficient amount for its daily 

 needs. Hence, as a rule, fertilizers for fruit trees may 

 include the less available and cheaper forms of con- 

 stituents. 



Apples AXD Pears.— On soils of good natural char- 

 acter, the fertilization of apples and pears need not be- 

 gin until the trees reach the bearing period, when an 

 annual dressing of 400 pounds per acre of either of the 

 following mixtures should be applied in early spring, 

 and jdowed in : 



-Vu. 1. — One part, or 100 pounds each, of ground bone, 

 acid phosphate and muriate of potash. 



jVo. 2. — One and one-half parts, or 150 pounds, of 

 ground bone, and one part, or 100 pounds, of muriate of 

 potash. 



As the trees grow older, tins.- .lri-;-,nii.'N -IimuI.I I..- in- 

 creased. While no definiti- nili •> ''.in In l;ihi ,i.,\m] as 

 to the most profitable amouiiis t^LipiiK , iIm Ih^i uimwits 



find that for mature trees it pirxs t.i n-. iiom 1. i,> 



1,500 pounds aunuallv. In iikiii\ .as, < mtrot'in. in 

 addition to that contain. .1 in tl..'- niixtur.-. should be 

 used, the kind and f..rin .1. [..n.iinu'. (..rlnii's, upon the 

 relative cost m.jri' tlian n|..in mti\ .iili.r thing, the 



:.f rj."i 



plowed down early in 

 growth may not int. n. 

 If they are allowed t.. i- 

 not only the food tlmi i 

 of tree and fruit, lii,- i 

 frequently injun- r; ■ ! 

 pects. On poor s.>; 

 naturally greater. 1 1 

 — .500 pounds per a. i. 

 the trees, and be couti 

 too, green manuring, a 

 practiced with safety 

 preceding cast-. 



PEACHHS. !•■ iMii.'- .1 



spect t.i t ■ ii! ' _ 



tree, ami ar. .lii;- i. m 

 growth, their early beai 

 ter of the crops. On 

 however, the necessity i 

 until after the first or : 



soils 



leqii 



:;,. -. liberal fertilization 

 -h..u:a la-Lcede the setting of 

 led annually. On these soils, 

 a source of nitrogen, can be 

 r a longer period than in the 



. r from apples and pears in re- 

 I" demands for added plant- 

 L'lcater in the early life of the 

 I '.-cause of their more rapid 

 ig, and the exhaustive charac- 

 lils of good natural character, 

 ■ fertilizing is seldom apparent 

 i-oiid year of growth. That ' 



fori 



de- 



additional fertili- 

 the 



tree growth. On in. .iiuiii an. I | r s.jils, the setting of 



the trees should bi- |ii....l..l i.y a fertilization, prefer- 

 ably broadcast in spring, and plowed in, with one or the 

 other of the mixtures recommended for apples and 

 pears, as follows : 



JVo. i. — One part, or 100 pounds each, of ground bone, 

 acid phosphate and muriate of potash. 



jYo. ^. — One and one-half parts, or 150 pounds, of 

 ground bone and one part, or 100 pounds, of muriate of 

 potash. 



On the better soils, Xo. 2, and on the poorer. No. 1, at 

 the rate of 400 to 600 pounds per acre, which should be 

 followed by the application of the more soluble fertili- 

 zers, immediately the trees begin to bear. The need of 

 nitrogen is often very marked, and is shown by a lack 

 of vigor of the tree. Nitrate of soda applied broadcast 

 in early spring has proved a very valuable form of ni- 

 trogen, since it is appropriated by the roots during the 

 early season, and if a sufficient abundance of the min- 

 erals is present, it enables a normal development of 



