Orchard Fruits and Berries 329 



Currants and gooseberries. 



These are crops which, under average conditions, are 

 seldom heavily fertilized, though fertilizing is usually 

 followed with great profit. They are less likely to need 

 nitrogen than the other crops mentioned, and a too heavy 

 fertilization with this element has a tendency to encourage 

 the development of mildew, the disease so common to these 

 crops. In common with the other crops mentioned, they 

 should be abundantly supplied with the minerals, phos- 

 phoric acid and potash, and the basic formula already 

 recommended (p. 313) may be used in all cases with profit 

 at the rate of 500 to 1000 pounds to the acre. The addi- 

 tional nitrogen needed may be provided by the slow-acting 

 materials. Many growers find such waste products as 

 wool and hair of great advantage in the growing of these 

 crops. 



Cranberries. 



This crop is very peculiar in its habits of growth, and 

 also in its choice of soils. It thrives upon muck soils and 

 upon sand. Experiments conducted by the New Jersey 

 Experiment Station show that the value of fertilization 

 of cranberries depends quite as much upon the drain- 

 age and irrigation of a bog as it does upon the soil. 

 When these conditions are satisfactory, liberal applica- 

 tions of minerals, particularly phosphoric acid, upon 

 muck soils increase the growth of vine and the size and 

 quantity of the berries. On such soils 400 pounds of acid 

 phosphate and 100 pounds of muriate of potash may be 

 applied. 



Upon light, sandy soils, nitrogen is quite as important as 

 phosphoric acid and potash, but it is necessary to exercise 



