104 MASSACHUSETTS HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



kind of nitrogen and the best methods of use. In the first place, 

 the character of the soil fiiust guide here, since soils differ both in 

 their physical and chemical character, and lience in their ability to 

 supply food. Sandy soils with sandy or gravelly subsoils repre- 

 sent a large class ; they possess a fairly good physical character, 

 but are very deficient in vegetable matter containing nitrogen, and 

 in the mineral constituents, phosphoric acid and potash. On these, 

 nitrogen supplied in the form of vegetable matter has proved of 

 great advantage, both directly in furnishing nitrogen, and indi- 

 rectly in improving the physical character of the soil, though it 

 must be accompanied by an abundance of the mineral constituents, 

 phosphoric acid and potash. If applied in the form of nitrate on 

 this class of soils, there is great danger of loss from leaching. 



Sandy or clay loams overlying clay subsoils of medium porosity 

 represent another class. These are frequently of good texture, 

 and richer in both humus and mineral constituents than the sandy. 

 With good cultivation fruits make a normal and health}^ growtii, 

 and do not show the need of nitrogen until crops are harvested ; 

 they are then much benefited by it, and it ma^' be most econom- 

 ically applied in the form of nitrates, particularly if added in 

 connection with the mineral constituents, phosphoric acid and 

 potash. 



The third class includes those which possess good physical 

 qualities combined with a high natural strength, which comprise 

 a relatively small area. Where such soils have not been sub- 

 jected for a long time to exhaustive cropping, the growth and 

 development of both tree and fruit proceed normally with mini- 

 mum applications of manures. 



In the second place, the natural mode of growth and develop- 

 ment of the tree should guide in the use of nitrogen. 



In all cases there should be sufficient nitrogen to provide for an 

 abundant leaf growtli early in the season, since the tree and fruit 

 are dependent for food upon both the leaves and the roots. 

 The supply of nitrogen, however, should be limited late in the 

 season, or the foliage will hold too long, with a consequent late 

 feeding, and the result that the new wood formed will lack hardi- 

 ness and maturity. 



Practical Suggestions. — A system of manuring for culti- 

 vated orchards, based upon the limited data at our disposal, may 

 be outlined as follows : 



