COMPOSITION OF FRUIT TREES 77 



One ton of peaches extracts 18 lbs. of mineral 

 matter from the soil. 



As a rule, peach trees grow best in good medium 

 soils, but the sub-soil must not be too rich, and 

 it is better if it is of a clayey nature. Many 

 American authorities have proved that diseased 

 and unproductive conditions of peach trees are 

 due to an excess of silica and a deficie'iicy of 

 nearly all the other ash-constituents. 



This is a case of soil exhaustion as far as the 

 mineral constituents are concerned ; they should 

 be replaced by suitable artificial manures. 



The percentage composition of the fruit is the 

 following : — 



