90 Bush-Fruits 



be left in a condition to repeat the same behavior the 

 following season. It is a significant fact, however, that 

 western growers, who may be fairly presumed to have a 

 stronger soil, are strongest in their recommendations of 

 liberal fertilizing. The following statement from 0. B. 

 Galusha, as reported in the Transactions of the Illinois 

 Horticultural Society for 1880, is worthy of careful con- 

 sideration: "A generous feeding of the soil is amply repaid 

 in liberal crops of fruit. In my older plantation, the soil 

 was equally manured throughout, and yet on one side it 

 is naturally considerably richer than the other, and this 

 side produces fully one-third more fruit than the other." 

 This same principle will apply equally well to ordinary 

 soils throughout the country, as a whole. If properly 

 managed and pruned, the plants will be able to transform 

 a large amount of plant-food into luscious berries and 

 laughing dollars. Heavy applications of stable-manure 

 to young plants, which have not yet sufficient wood to 

 carry full crops, may work injury, especially if on strong, 

 moist soils. On soils of this character, nothing is needed 

 until the plants are in full bearing. If additional plant- 

 food is then desirable, commercial fertilizers, may better 

 fill the need. 



In the use of chemicals, a quick-acting carrier of nitro- 

 gen, like nitrate of soda, is to be preferred. This, if ap- 

 plied early in the season, at the time when growth is be- 

 ginning, will do its work with time for proper ripening of 

 the cane to insure best conditions for withstanding winter 

 injury. For the same reason, stable-manure, when used, 

 should be applied in fall or winter, rather than spring or 

 early summer. 



