THIRTY-FOURTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 



167 



It is more economical to buy the ''simples'' thnn to buy complete 

 fertilizers. We may also use these dilfereut fertiliziui^' elements sep i- 

 rately, and even at ditterent times of the A'eni- ujider the right condi- 

 tions, but in so doing' we certainly should not use eitlier one of the 

 elements in excess, and to the neglect of the others. I think a good 

 plan is to decide upon a ration that we think suited to our re juiit^- 

 ments for a given season, and then adhere to that ration dorinu' tise 

 fertilizing- period of the year. For example, barnyard manure si!p|)le- 

 mented with bone meal is an excellent ration. Another fine lation, 

 now much in favor, is the application of phos]^liates and potash (or 

 phosphates alone) about the first of September, followed hy a sowing 

 of field peas or vetch immediately after; completing- the ration in the 

 spring- by applying' dried blood or tankage when the covcn'-erop is 

 plowed under. 



These two rations are mentioned only as examples; the point T wonld 

 make is to urge the importance of having a comprehensive plan t'oi- tlic^ 

 season's fertilizing, broad enough to fnlfill all the .requirements of tlie 

 crop. 



POTASH. 



As g-enerally understood, potash is the maturing- element in fertilizers. 

 It performs an important office in the formation of starch in the leaves 

 and in its transference to the "fleshy part of the fruit. If in liberal 

 supply, it is supposed to add sweetness to the fruit. It also hardens 

 up and aids in maturing the woody parts of the tree, and its importan-ce 

 in all these' respects is universally recognized. 



We have a large supply of potash in our California soils; 40.000 

 pounds in the first six feet of soil is, I believe, the estimate. To what 

 extent this is available to the tree is difficult to determine, but we do 

 know that the bulk of the soil potash is not in a form to be innncdiatoly 

 available and only becomes available by slow degrees. We also kiKPv 

 it has been repeatedly demonstrated by field experiments that nndt^r 

 similar conditions, with an apparently adequate supply of inert ])ota^h 

 in the soil, the application of a light dressing of available potasli \\ ill 

 g-ive an increase in the crop. I suppose there is no (inestion bnt rliat 

 the best way to get the benefit of the soil potash is by growing cover- 

 crops. 



It may be said that a g-ood deal of uncertainty exists among the 

 fruit growers as to the advisability of using potash fertilizers; theo- 

 retically they are not needed. iM^-ause there is a sufficient supply in 

 the soil, and money sp(Mit for po^asli would seoni to lu- money thrown 

 away. 



NO UNIFORMITY OF PRACTICE. 



In this respect, as in many others, there is no uniformity of practice 

 on the part of the growers. This is one of the reasons why the State 

 of California has established an experiment station here in Riverside. 

 Such cpiestions. as the potash question are to be studied by Professor 

 Smith and his associates, and it is expected that by means of field 

 experiments, now being carried on at the station grounds, and also 

 in some of the orchards, results wall ultimately be obtained so' clear 

 and positive in character as to serve as rules of guidance for the future. 

 Such results will be of inestimable value to the fruit industry. 



