17 



of the crude Stassfurt Salts and contains the equivilent 



of about 50/a K. 0. It is one of the most concentrated forms 



2 

 of potash fertilizers and is particularly valuable because 



it can be safely applied to some crops which would be injured 



by the presence of the chlorine in the muriate. 



Lime. 



Lime is used more as an amendment than as a direct fer- 



tiliier. Its action as a floculatinr agent in the soil is 



extremely beneficial and it also acts to nutralize any possible 



acidity. It is also an essential plant food but not considered 



as a commercial fertilizer because it is usually present in 



sufficient quantities to meSt the needs of most plants. It 



may be applied as calcitom sulphate (land plaster) quick liine 



O) , hydrate (Ca(OH) ) or carbonate of lime (CaCO ) . The 



2 3 



CaO ahd Ga(OH) are usually used only on very sour land (acid) . 



2 

 If lime is applied every four or five years it should not be 



used in excess of 500# per acre, but usually in starting up an 

 old orchard the first application should be greater than this- 

 from 1,000 to 2,000# per acre. 



Pruning, 

 In per'haps fifty percent of the old orchards which it 

 would pay to renovate, the ruination of the trees is accom- 

 plished as much by their being too close together as by any 

 other one factor. Farmers fail to notice what is Jiappening 

 until the trees become greatly damaged. The decrease in yield 

 does not call attention to the trouble until it is too late. 

 Then the tops be^in to meet so as to shut out light from the 

 lower limbs then one half of the trees should be cut out. If 

 this is not done, these lov/er limbs well oegin to bear inferior 

 fruit, then no fruit at all, and finally they will die. The 



