FEEDING THE TREES 97 



has not been so cheap in American markets in recent 

 years as its composition would seem to warrant, and 

 careful buyers have been apt to content themselves 

 with high-grade phosphates of the usual sort. 



As a source of potash the muriate has usually been 

 recommended, but the sulphate of potash is doubtless 

 better for most soils. The muriate soon makes a soil 

 sour, and apparently does not give good results on 

 the fruit itself. Kainit, which has been used to some 

 extent, is objectionable because the potash in it costs 

 more a pound than in other forms, and also on account 

 of impurities it contains. 



Coming now to more specific suggestions, we may 

 quote a few formulas, some of which have been previ- 

 ously published. 



Prof. W. P. Brooks of the Massachusetts Agricul- 

 tural College recommends for average conditions : 



Basic slag meal 400-500 pounds 



Low grade sulphate of potash . . 300 pounds 



In years when the orchard bears freely there may 

 be added 75-100 pounds of nitrate of soda, though pos- 

 sibly the growing of leguminous cover crops may 

 make this application of nitrogen unnecessary. The 

 slag meal will supply phosphoric acid at abou.t 3 cents 

 a pound, and it also gives a large amount of lime. 

 which is very valuable. 



Mr. George D. Leavens, fertilizer expert, of New 

 York, recommends a more liberal ration, as follows: 



Basic slag meal •...-. 1500 pounds 



High grade sulphate of 



potash 300 - 500 pounds 



Nitrate of soda 200 - 400 ])ounds 



This is for an orchard in full bearing, and it is es- 

 pecially understood that the nitrate of soda must ba 



