THE ORANGE IN CALIFORNIA — FERTILIZATION. 145 



ADVANTAGE OF FERTILIZING SMALL TREES.* 



Careful experiments have established another important 

 point in bringing a young orchard into speedy and profitable 

 bearing. That is, that by giving it a moderate dressing of 

 stable manure, or some other good fertilizer, it may be brought 

 into bearing one or two years earlier than if no fertilizer had 

 been used. Experiments have been made by fertilizing some 

 parts of a young orchard and leaving another part without, 

 demonstrating that the part fertilized would bear enough more 

 than the other, the first crop, to far more than pay for the fer- 

 tilizer used, while, owing to the increased growth of the trees, a 

 still greater difference in productiveness would be realized in 

 the second crop. The fact is well established that a young 

 orchard judiciously fertilized and well cared for, at five or six 

 years from planting may be brought into profitable bearing, 

 while one of the same age which has not been fertilized will 

 give small and unsatisfactorj^ returns. The two orchards cost 

 the same for water and care, and yet the one fertilized yields a 

 handsome profit, while the other little more than pays ex- 

 penses. 



FERTILIZING THE SOIL AS AFFECTING THE ORANGE 

 IN HEALTH AND DISEASE.t 



Fertilizing for Growth and Fruit. — Primarily the orange- 

 grower desires to know how to fertilize so as to stimulate either 

 growth or fruit production. With oranges, as with many other 

 agricultural plants, one may fertilize in such a manner that 

 excessive growth is stimulated at the expense of fruit produc- 

 tion. A strong nitrogenous fertilizer results usually in much 

 growth and little fruit. This seems to be particularly true if 

 the ammonia is added in an organic form. While trees are 

 young it is probably well to favor the growth of wood princi- 

 pally, but at an age of seven or eight years from the bud, the 

 tree if it has grown properly, will have attained sufficient size 

 to begin to produce a fair quantity of fruit. It should then be 

 given a slightly modified fertiUzer, containing more potash and 



*From report of J. M. Edmison, to Riverside Horticultural Club, Febru- 

 ary, 1899. ^. . . . 



"t Extracts from an article by Herbert J. Webster, Assistant ni Division of 

 Vegetable Pathology, Washington, D. C. A deduction from Florida experi- 

 ence which naturally will interest California citrus-growers. 



lOc 



