178 



FERTILISING MATTER REMOVED BY VARIOUS FRUITS. 

 (From analyses by Mr. G. E, Colby, University of California.) 



Including Shells. 



t Estimated. 



The above table shows that the drain of Potash on the soil from 

 the removal of fruit crops is most marked in the case of olives, grapes, 

 figs, peaches, prunes, apricots, lemons, and oranges, in succession, 

 and least in almonds, apples, pears, plums, and cherries. 



Phosphoric Acid is higher in the ashes of quinces, almonds, 

 olives, figs, strawberries, grapes (seedless varieties have less), 

 peaches, lemons, oranges (except seedless varieties), and less in 

 apples, pears, and cherries. 



Of Nitrogen olives requires most, and are followed by peaches, 

 figs, apricots, oranges, grapes, plums, lemons, while the fruits poorer 

 in nitrogen are apples and pears. 



Lime is extracted from the soil by lemons, oranges, olives, and 

 figs to a greater extent than by other fruits. 



These analyses throw some light on the great sustaining power 

 of the olives and figs and nuts, which form an important part of 

 the diet of the inhabitants of those southern parts of Europe and 

 northern parts of Africa which encircle the Mediterranean. 



They also show that the drain on the soil is greater in the 

 case of the orange than in that of the apple, while the former is 

 also more nourishing. 



WEIGHT OF ONE ACRE OF SOIL AND OF ITS CONSTITUENTS. 



To the untrained mind the perusal of a statement of a soil 

 analysis conveys no tangible idea of the amount of the con- 

 stituents declared therein and contained in any definite depth of 

 soil on, for instance, one acre of land. An approximate idea of the 



