HOW TO APPLY PLANT -FOOD 63 



FERTILIZERS 



Stable -manure is by far the most popular fertilizer 

 among growers. It is particularly applicable to black- 

 caps, since they demand heavier feeding than red rasp- 

 berries or blackberries and are less likely to respond to 

 an over -supply by making too vigorous growth, with 

 consequent lack of hardiness and diminished fruitful- 

 ness. In replies to questions sent to growers, asking 

 what fertilizer had been found most satisfactory, stable- 

 manure was mentioned forty -four times. Wood -ashes 

 ranked next, being mentioned twenty-four times. This 

 strong preponderance of opinion in favor of stable- 

 manure may indicate that it possesses greater value 

 than its comparative merits warrant. This is the one 

 material which nearly every grower is likely to have 

 used, and when properly applied it is sure to give satis- 

 faction. It does not follow that its application is always 

 the most economical and satisfactory thing to do. 



One wide-awake grower replied that a Planet Jr. 

 cultivator proved the best fertilizer with him. This is 

 simply a modified version of the old adage that "tillage 

 is manure," the full truth of which most of us have not 

 yet come to appreciate. Such plants as raspberries do 

 not make heavy drafts upon the soil. If therefore the 

 physical conditions of the soil can be kept right and the 

 chemical activities can be augmented, enough plant-food 

 can be, unlocked from most soils to supply their needs. 

 Tillage does both of these and also assists to conserve 

 moisture, without which no plant-food can be available, 

 since it can only be used by the plant when in solution, 



