318 Fertilizers 



the presence of an abundance of minerals, the need for 

 nitrogen is indicated by the color of the foliage. If it 

 lacks vigor and is yellow in the spring, rather than green, 

 a dressing of from 100 to 150 pounds of nitrate of soda will 

 supply the needs to better advantage than any other form. 



PEACHES 



Peaches differ from apples and pears in respect to fertiliz- 

 ing because the period of development of the tree, prepara- 

 tory to bearing, is shorter, and because the cropping is 

 usually much more exhaustive. Hence, the demands for 

 added plant-food are proportionately greater in the early 

 life of the tree, and are different, because of their more 

 rapid growth. That is, forms of nitrogen that are more 

 available are preferred to the slowly available materials 

 recommended for apples and pears. 



The need of fertilizers. 



The results of an experiment conducted by the New 

 Jersey Experiment Station are interesting and valuable, 

 as bearing upon this point. They show the value of fer- 

 tilization, not only in increasing the yield of crops, but in 

 extending the period of life of the trees, and in overcoming 

 unfavorable crop conditions. The soil upon which the 

 experiment was conducted possessed only medium fertility, 

 good mechanical condition, and was fairly representative 

 of soils naturally well adapted for peach-growing. The 

 fertilized plots received annually 



Nitrate of soda 150 Ib. 



Bone-black superphosphate 350 Ib. 



Muriate of potash 150 Ib. 



