THE ORANGE IN CALIFORNIA — FERTILIZATION. 135 



great demands upon the soil without giving back some equiva- 

 lent in the way of plant-food. I think many of our people 

 have tried to discover just what is most needed in the way of 

 substantial diet, but as previously stated, only a few have found 

 that which is satisfactory. As our groves advance in age, how- 

 ever, more marked results may be noticed in the application of 

 fertilizers. 



Pretty much every brand of commercial fertilizer finds users 

 among our growers, but so far as my information goes, with 

 one exception, of those who are not interested in some way in 

 the sale of these goods, the users have no very decided views 

 as to results. They are unable to say positively that one kind 

 has given better results than another, and in many cases are 

 not convinced that any favorable returns were obtained from 

 their use. 



There may be reasons for these discouraging experiences 

 which can be explained b_v those informed. If we only knew 

 just what to employ with that degree of certainty that we use 

 hydrocyanic acid gas to kill scale, we should feel that the pro- 

 duction of citrus fruits could be regulated with almost scientific 

 accuracy. 



Great Anticipations. — I recognize one difficulty in the employ- 

 ment of commercial fertilizers that not infrequently prevails, 

 and that is, the too great expectation of immediate good results 

 to be derived from their use. The fertilizer is scattered about 

 and then a magical change is looked for, and a consequent 

 inactivity in cultivation results, and in the end perhaps dis- 

 appointment. We should follow the example of the good 

 Baptist deacon who prayed most fervently for a good crop, and 

 then turned all hands out early to help the Lord answer his 

 prayer. We should not depend upon the fertilizer, however 

 high priced, to take the place of the whole process of crop 

 roduction. 



An Experiment. — I have been frequently questioned as to 

 what fertilizer we use on the San Isabel ranch; the parties 

 inquiring wishing to know that they might employ that which 

 had produced such excellent results. I regret very much that 

 I have been unable to reply to these inquiries in a manner 

 that makes the answer of any practical value. Two years ago 

 I made what I intended to be a fairly practical test of different 



