CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL. 89 



lack nitrogen, the addition of good stable manure, or the 

 ploughing under of a leguminous crop may help matters; 

 or, he may find it quicker and more economical to apply 

 nitrogen in the form of nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, 

 or other material. The better the land is tilled, the quicker, 

 as a rule, will be the results of such fertilizing, and the less 

 material to be applied. From two to three hundred pounds 

 to the acre is ordinarily considered to be sufficient. In a 

 similar way the grower may experiment with the addition of 

 potash and phosphoric acid. As a rule, from one to two hun- 

 dred pounds per acre annually of high-grade muriate of pot- 

 ash and high-grade phosphatic materials will be sufficient. 

 When land is not naturally well supplied with these materials, 

 and when the crops are heavy, these applications may be in- 

 creased. If truck-gardening crops or small fruits are raised 

 between the trees, then the amount of fertilizer will need to 

 be increased considerably. 



The reader who intends to do his best with his orchard 

 should consult the bulletins of the various experiment stations 

 on the above points. 



