330 Fertilizers 



great care in the application of nitrogen because it is likely 

 to cause too great a growth of vine at the expense of 

 fruiting. In general 150 pounds of nitrate of soda, 300 

 pounds of acid phosphate and 100 pounds of muriate of 

 potash to the acre is sufficient where a uniform growth 

 of vine is present. At all events, the fertilization of cran- 

 berries is of very recent origin and no definite rules can be 

 laid down. It is an individual problem with each grower. 

 The recommendations above are based upon work done 

 by the New Jersey Experiment Station by the author. 

 The results obtained by the Massachusetts Experiment 

 Station under Cape Cod conditions seem to contradict the 

 New Jersey results. 



GRAPES 



Grapes are more exhaustive as a crop than most of the 

 fruit crops, largely because of the larger total crop har- 

 vested, and the special need is for phosphoric acid and 

 potash. These elements may be supplied by the basic 

 formula (p. 313), and very liberal dressings are recom- 

 mended from 1000 to 2000 pounds to the acre annually 

 after the bearing period begins. On light soils, an 

 annual spring dressing of nitrate of soda, at the rate of 

 200 pounds to the acre, is also desirable, in order to encour- 

 age rapid and large early growth of leaf and vine, though 

 this dressing may be omitted if the growth of clover as a 

 green-manure is practicable. The latter, however, as when 

 used in connection with the other fruits mentioned, should 

 not be allowed to mature, but rather be plowed down early 

 in the season. 



The main point in the fertilizing of all fruits is to pro- 

 vide an abundance of the mineral elements, and to give 



