30 SUCCESSFUL FRUIT CULTURE 



tions that increase the vigor of the stock or body 

 decrease the reproductive forces, while with a decrease 

 in the vigor of the body the reproductive forces are 

 increased. Herein is a wise provision of nature for 

 the perpetuation or preservation of species; for when 

 the stock or body is vigorous there is no necessity for 

 immediate provision for the future, but when the stock 

 becomes weak nature makes an unusual effort to per- 

 petuate the species by an increase of the reproductive 

 powers. 



One of the greatest difficulties the fruit grower 

 meets in his business is that of obtaining the necessary 

 amount of plant food to produce his crops. This prob- 

 lem is being solved in a measure by the large amount 

 of commercial manures offered in our markets. Stable 

 manure is not a complete fertilizer. It contains a 

 larger per cent of nitrogenous elements than those of 

 the mineral, and to produce a complete growth must be 

 supplemented by adding potash and phosphoric acid. 

 The kind of commercial fertilizer or manure that 

 gives the best results in fruit growing to supplement 

 stable manure or to be used alone, is fine ground fresh 

 bones and potash. The best grades of bone contain 

 sufficient nitrogen for most soils, but are deficient in 

 potash, and if the land is very poor, potash and some 

 other nitrogenous manure should be added, like nitrate 

 of soda, sulphate of ammonia, stable manure, etc. 



For an acre of apple trees (forty trees), over ten 

 years of age, the following formula will give good 

 results, varying the quantity according to the condition 

 of the soil, the growth of the trees and whether they 

 are producing a crop of fruit or not the season of 

 application : 



250 to 500 pounds fine ground bone 

 100 to 300 pounds sulphate of potash 

 50 to 150 pounds nitrate of soda 



