FERTILIZERS 



223 



The cions are cut to a long wedge and are driven down into the 

 incision made by the saw, being careful, as in cleft grafting, that 

 the cambium layers meet. It is a much easier method for the 

 novice than the other metliod. 



3. Fertilizers. — On the matter of fertilizers for the renovated 

 orchard the writer has rather decided opinions, based on his 

 work in several orchards and on observations in several others. 



No Nitrogen. — In the first place, there ought to be no 

 nitrogen of any kind applied the first year. This comes as near 

 to being a rule without exceptions as we are likely to run across. 

 Just think for a moment of 

 what has been done to the 

 orchard. If all that has 

 been outlined (with the ad- 

 dition of cultivation and 

 spraying) has been carried 

 out thoroughly it will be the 

 most surprised lot of trees in 

 the state, without the addi- 

 tion of an ounce of nitrogen. 

 We have taken away from 

 one-fourth to nine-tenths of 

 the top, which alone would 

 induce a vigorous growth ; 

 it has been freed from insect 

 and fungous attacks and the 

 soil has been stirred up so 

 as to supply it with all the 

 water it can use, something 

 it probably has not had for 

 years. • Incidentally this soil treatment seems to give it about all 

 the plant food that it can use and it puts forth a rank, dark 

 green growth that would do credit to a green bay instead of a 

 green apple tree. A glance at Figure 102 will show the type of 

 growth to be expected. 



Now suppose that more nitrogen has been added, particularly 

 slowly available nitrogen, like barn manure or tankage. The 



Iiu. 103. — Trunk of a tree damaged by too 

 much nitrogen. The cambium layer has been 

 killed and the bark is separating iroin the wood. 



