TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



233 



connected, and for success, dependent upon each other, just as fertiliza- 

 tion and irrigation are independent, yet dependent for success upon 

 each other. 



In regard to the three elements, the only definite way of ascertaining 

 which and how many of them should be used on any given soil is to 

 put the question to the soil and get the answer in the crop. This is 

 done by the test-plot system. It is accomplished by making a number 

 of plots and applying the elements singly, doubly, and all three 

 together, viz: 



Plot 1. Xitrogen. 



Plot 2. Phosphoric acid. 



Plot 3. Potash. 



Plot 4. Nitrogen and phosphoric acid. 



Plot 5. Nitrogen and potash. 



Plot 6. Phosphoric acid and potash. 



Plot 7. Nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash. 



Plot 8. Nothing. 



By tending these plots alike and harvesting the crops from each sep- 

 arately and comparing the results in quantity and quality is the only 

 rational way to determine which is the best and most economical way 

 of fertilizing. 



In the absence of test plots, the only rational way to fertilize is to 

 replace the three simples in the ratio that any crop will remove them, 

 due consideration being given to the natural advantages of the soil as 

 evidenced by experience. To illustrate: "When you see a young orange 

 orchard with vigorous growth and large and perhaps coarse oranges, 

 one knows that nitrogen is in excess in the soil and that, therefore, the 

 nitrogen can be cut down in the fertilizer to be applied. Remember 

 that in putting back on the soil what the crop takes off you will be 

 maintaining the integrity of your soils, and that at the end of ten, or 

 twenty, or thirty years your soils will be as rich as in their virgin state. 

 Any one deviating from this rule {i.e., in getting fertilization mixed up 

 with the treatment of your soils, and with the abstruse and impracti- 

 cable soil analyses) will find himself in trouble, like the boy who was 

 being taught the points of the compass: " Xow, Johnny," said the 

 teacher, ''face the north. Right. What is on your right hand?" 

 "The east." "And what is on your left?" "The west." "And what 

 is behind you? " "' That patch on my pants. I told ma you would see 

 it." And so people who attempt to deal with soil analyses will find 

 that, instead of having the glorious south behind them to nourish pro- 

 ductive and paying crops, they will have nothing but a patch on their 

 pants. 



Some thirty years ago it was thought that any chemist could analyze 

 a soil and tell in what it was deficient and so supply the needs of 



