152 The Principles of Fruit-growing 



How to apply. — In general, fertilizer is broadcasted in 

 fruit-plantations. In young orchards, it may be applied 

 near the trees if they are to receive the immediate or 

 chief benefit, although it should never be placed against 

 or very close to the trunk. Sometimes it is applied in 

 drills with potatoes or with other catch-crops. Usually it 

 is preferable, however, to treat the entire area for the 

 benefit of all the crops that are to be produced. 



The fertilizer may be applied in autiman or in spring. 

 Old trees do not receive the benefit of surface applications 

 at once, and if the roots are deep and the soil retentive 

 they may never receive much help from such applications. 

 Wheeler states that "in some European countries the fertil- 

 izer for orchards is placed from 4 to 5 inches deep in holes 

 20 inches apart, at the rate of about an ounce and a quar- 

 ter in each hole. This method is, however, probably too 

 expensive to employ in this country, although it may be 

 especially effective for orchards in sod. If the work "were 

 capable of being done by machinery or by some suitable 

 implement the method might possibly prove of economic 

 value." Materials that are rich in nitrogen should be 

 applied cautiously, if at all, in autumn, at least before 

 growth ceases, as it promotes late growth. There is likely, 

 also, to be considerable loss of nitrogen. 



The general unskilled farmer would better apply ready- 

 mixed fertilizers. As the fruit-grower begins to under- 

 stand his problem, however, and becomes discriminating, 

 he will find himself buying the separate ingredients and 

 applying them as he thinks best. 



