I02 THE BEGINNER IN POULTRY 



without moving the flocks at all. Some have said that 

 fruit trees grown in poultry yards were sappy, brittle, 

 and short-lived. When this is true, I think it is chiefly 

 because of lack of balance in the fertilizer. The drop- 

 pings from the fowls make the ground rich in nitrogen, 

 the most expensive part of a fertilizer, but may leave it 

 lacking in potash. But potash alone can be bought by 

 the hundred pounds. Either muriate of potash, or sul- 

 phate of potash is a good fertiHzer for fruit trees, and 

 would solve the problem of some of those barren orchards 

 which grow for twenty years (owners have told this 

 story) without fruiting. These potashes are very con- 

 centrated, and a little goes a long way. Some California 

 orchardists say that nitrate of soda alone will be all that is 

 needed in some soils. This shows its effect very quickly, 

 and would please all for this reason. I use it on early 

 vegetables to hasten maturity, but have not tried it on 

 trees. Muriate and sulphate of potash have given us good 

 results on peaches, pears, plums, and apples, in connection 

 with poultry droppings distributed by the fowls them- 

 selves. The yards are plowed each season, and cultivated 

 later ; more than once, some years. This is chiefly to 

 sweeten the ground for the fowls. The potash helps here, 

 also. If I had wood ashes, I should probably use those, 

 as all farmers do. But in buying, I prefer to buy the potash 

 "straight," as wood ashes are said to vary much in quality. 

 I think it should appeal to the common sense of all, 

 that, if one does not want spongy, sappy trees which pro- 

 duce too much foliage and fruit of second quality and infe- 

 rior quantity, it behooves him to &wp^\y all the great, impor- 

 tant elements needed by the trees ; even as he must furnish 

 all the important elements in the food for his fowls. 



