THE ORANGE IN CALIFORNIA — FERTILIZATION. 137 



our failure to sufficiently aerate the soil by proper and 

 squent cultivation. The air, I believe, is an essential factor 



carrying on the process of nitrification. A circulation of air 

 rough the soil will unquestionabl_y increase the available 

 .pply of nitrogenous food. 



I know little of chemistry, but I observe that soils kept open 

 id thoroughly aerated produce great growth, even without 

 le application of fertilizers of any kind; whereas, soils com- 

 icted, however rich in plant-food, will not compare in results. 



thus philosophize because I believe much plant-food will 

 ;ver be utilized until the soil is properly aerated. Cultivation 



therefore an important factor in proper fertilization of soil. 



How to Apply. — Fertilizers are variously applied by orchard- 

 ts. One grower, and he has a fine, well-kept orchard I notice, 

 ;atters barnyard or sheep manure immediately around the 

 unks of the trees, and extending out five or six feet. Generally, 

 owever, fertilizers are scattered broadcast between trees and 

 lowed under; some, however, drill them in. The latter, for 

 jmmercial goods or ground sheep manure, is the best method 

 1 my opinion. I observe that the grove first referred to is 

 Lgorous in growing, but this year has a light crop. 



However, the advocates of these different methods generally 

 oint to good crops as the result of their plans. One thing is 

 jrtain, it either makes little or no difference with us what is 

 sed, or how applied, or else the fertilizers are so all-powerful 

 lat it is only necessary to have them come in contact with 

 le soil to have it respond. 



Some of our people have experimented with green crops for 

 srtilizing, but have nothing satisfactory to report. Perhaps if 

 ley had used some of the leguminous plants recently secured 

 •om Europe, and so highly recommended by Professor Hilgard 

 nd others, results might have been quite different. 



More Investigation Desirable— 1 want to commend this 

 abject to the careful investigation of the more observing and 

 iientific of our growers, so that the work of fertilizing our 

 Ltrus orchards may be reduced to a science so plain, simple, 

 nd practical that any of us may comprehend it, and that the 

 3sults will be such that an all-assuring faith in its principles 

 lay prevail. I am pleased to note that the Agricultural 

 )epartment of our State University, as well as those interested 



