CULTIVATION. FERTILIZATION. THINNING 55 



orchards which are thoroughly tilled, the use of barn 

 manures (which contain considerable nitrogen) , should 

 generally be discouraged. Use tillage and late green 

 crops to supply the nitrogen, except perhaps for a 

 season or two when an attempt 

 is making to rejuvenate a 

 neglected orchard." One of 

 the main objections to stable 

 manure is that it is apt to cause 

 trees to grow too late in the fall. 



Potash is generally the most 

 important element to be ap- 

 plied directly to orchards, par- 

 ticularly after the trees have 

 reached bearing age. The 

 available store of potash in the 

 soil is much increased by the 

 thorough tillage which has 

 already been recommended, 

 but in bearing orchards it should also be supplied 

 every year in some commercial form. One of the best 

 sources of potash for orchards is unleached hard-wood 

 ashes. It gives fruit a high color. Twenty-five bush- 

 els to the acre is a good dressing. 



Muriate of potash is perhaps the best and most 

 reliable form in which to secure potash at the present 

 time, says Cornell Bulletin No. 72. Commercial 

 samples generally contain about fifty per cent, of 

 actual potash. Kainit or German potash salts is a 

 muriate of potash containing about twelve per cent, 

 of potash. An apple orchard in full bearing and upon 

 loose soil may receive as high as 500 pounds of muri- 

 ate of potash per acre, but a normal and economical 



PEACHES WELL THINNED. 

 NO PROPS NEEDED HERE.' 



