96 THE AMERICAN APPLE ORCHARD 



Regarding the various sources from which different 

 fertihzing elements may be most effectively drawn, 

 the fruit grower will follow somewhat the same rules 

 followed in general farming. The fruit grower is 

 somewhat better situated than the general farmer, how- 

 ever, as regards that most expensive element, nitrogen. 

 If the fruit grower follows the system of cultivation 

 now commonly recommended and grows a leguminous 

 cover crop, he will be able to supply nearly all the ni- 

 trogen which his fruit trees need without any expense 

 except what he pays for the seed of his cover crop. 

 When other nitrogenous fertilizers have to be applied, 

 nothing can surpass well-rotted barnyard manure. In 

 a few instances the writer has known of the successful 

 application of muck; but this can be recommended 

 only on farms where muck of good quality can be se- 

 cured with very little trouble. Nitrate of soda has been 

 considerably recommended during recent years and is 

 doubtless one of the cheapest forms in which nitrogen 

 can be purchased and one of the most effective forms 

 in which it can be used. Its specific characteristic is 

 its rapid working, so that it is especially adapted to the 

 immediate correction of unsatisfactory conditions after 

 the season of cultivation has begun. 



In deciding what forms of potash and phosphoric 

 acid to employ the apple grower can give himself the 

 benefit of the fact that slowly available forms will 

 usually answer his purposes as well as the more 

 rapidly available ones. As the former are usually the 

 cheaper, this point is of importance. 



Partly on this account and partly on account of the 

 lime contained, basic slag, Thomas phosphate powder, 

 should stand high in favor with the orchardist as a 

 source of phosphoric acid. Unfortunately this material 



