Needs of Fruit Trees. 207 



if fruitful, plant -food equal in value to about eighty 

 dollars more than the wheat. No one would think 

 for a moment of trying to raise wheat, even on our 

 best New York land, for twenty consecutive years, 

 even though the soil was fitted in the best possible 

 manner yearly." 



Respecting the need of fertilizers for orchards, 

 Voorhees writes as follows:* "It is argued by many, 

 and sometimes by those who should know better, that 

 fruit-growing is quite similar to growing trees; that 

 the question of soil exhaustion is not a matter of 

 very great importance, provided the soil is well culti- 

 vated, and that all soils contain sufficient quantities 

 of the food elements to insure the relatively small 

 available supply required from year to year. 



"It is admitted that on soils of good mechanical 

 condition, well drained and cultivated, which are 

 naturally adapted for fruit as well as other crops, be- 

 cause well supplied with the essential constituents 

 nitrogen, phosphoric acid, potash, and lime the 

 exhaustion arising from the continuous removal of 

 crops will not become apparent for a long time, 

 but it should be emphasized that it is only upon 

 soils which possess these characteristics that the 

 growth of fruit, even poor fruit, can be continued 

 for any considerable period without the application of 

 manures." 



"It is obvious that such specific results as have 

 been obtained concerning the needs of general farm 



*E. B. Voorhees, "Manuring Orchards", before Mass. Hort. Soc. Mar. 28 

 MM 



