39 



The other two forms of potash used are the high-grade sulphate and 

 the muriate, both of which are used very largely in orchards, and both 

 of which are 50 per cent actual potash, and consequently one gets 

 the required amount of potash with the least amount of material, 

 and so with the least expense. Application of either should be 200 to 

 300 pounds per acre yearly. 



In phosphoric acid one has the choice of several different forms, but 

 probably the best two for the orchardist are Thomas phosphate or 

 basic slag, and one of the superphosphates or acid phosphates. Where 

 one is ploughing the land I should favor the use of the basic slag, as, 

 in addition to the phosphoric acid, it contains a large percentage of 

 lime, which will assist in putting the soil in good shape. It will run 

 usually about 15 per cent to 17 per cent of phosphoric acid, and from, 

 experience in many orchards it seems to be an admirable form. On 

 the other hand, where one is not able to plough the land, or for any 

 reason has decided not to, the superphosphate is the best form of 

 phosphoric acid, as it is readily soluble, and will therefore get down 

 to the roots of the trees more quickly and more certainly than the 

 basic slag. As to quantities per acre or per tree, a good yearly applica- 

 tion of the slag would be from 300 to 400 pounds per acre, or on scat- 

 tering trees from 8 to 10 pounds per tree. Where the superphosphates 

 are used the quantity applied would vary with the source of the material 

 from which they were manufactured, but probably should be from 

 one-third to one-half less than of the basic slag. These quantities are 

 merely suggested as the usual ones applied, and it should be borne in 

 mind that there is httle danger in applying an over-dose of either 

 potash or jDhosphoric acid, as neither one leaches out of the soil to any 

 extent, nor does either one, when present in moderate excess in the 

 soil, produce the injurious effect on the orchard that an over-supply 

 of nitrogen does. They should be apphed as early in the spring as 

 possible, and worked into the soil as much as is possible with the 

 method of culture adopted. 



We come now to the question of cover-crops for the orchard, by 

 which is meant some crop grown in the orchard, usually late in the 

 season, and exclusively, or at least mainly, with the object of improv- 

 ing the soil of the orchard. That it can be made to play a very im- 

 portant part in the upbuilding of an old orchard has been shown time 

 and again. Some of the best ones for Massachusetts orchards are 

 buckwheat, rye, soy beans, cow peas and the vetches. The chief 

 advantages derived from their use would be that they take plant food 

 away from the trees in the autumn and thus help to ripen them up; 

 that they catch and hold nitrates in the soil after the growth of the 

 trees has stopped, and when these substances would otherwise be 

 washed out of the soil ; that they help to pulverize and rot down the 

 sod, which is especially important at the beginning; that when they 

 are ploughed under they furnish humus, which in turn furnishes plant 



