20 



THE AVOCADO IN FLORIDA. 



latent buds, or })y cLittint>- the trees otf near the ground and then wait- 

 ing- for sprouts to start from the crown. Several of these sprouts are 

 then budded and the most vigorous of those that have taken are per- 

 mitted to grow (see PI. 11, fig. 1). 



CULTIVATION. 



When the trees are set in the field a considerable quantity of mulch 

 should be placed about them; this prevents the soil from becoming 

 hot about the roots and from drying out. 



In Florida it is better to plant some field crops, such as cowpeas or 

 velvet beans, or to sow beggar weed in a 3^oung orchard. During the 

 winter, crops of vegetables may be grown in the orchard with advan- 

 tage to the trees. The "middles" may be- planted to pineapples, 

 since the pineapple fertilizer will produce a good growth of avocado; 

 but there is the disadvantage that these plants will dry out the soil 

 severely during a drought. During dr}^ weather cultivation should 

 be frequent and thorough, but not deep; 3 inches of soil mulch is 

 sufiicient to conserve capillary moisture. During the rainy season 

 cultivation ma}^ be suspended entirely and the middles planted to 

 some cover crop, as indicated above. 



FERTILIZEKS. 



In selecting fertilizers a formula should be chosen in which the 

 ammonia is from an organic source, such as dried blood or cotton- 

 seed meal, in preference to sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of soda. 

 Sulphate of potash will be a safe form to employ as a source of 

 potash. It should be used in liberal quantities to insure good firm 

 leaves and wood, and also to prevent the dropping of the fruit. 

 Phosphoric acid, so far as experiments teach, may be supplied from 

 any source that is ordinarily used. If the trees be planted about 

 poultry yards, or fowls are allowed to roost in the trees, potash will 

 be all the fertilizer needed, ])ut this should be used liberally to keep 

 the trees health}^ and free from insect attacks. Such trees when not 

 fertilized with potash are usually attacked by insect pests, but as a 

 rule are exempt from Gkjeosporium. 



When commercial fertilizers are to be applied, the ordinary "fruit 

 and vine" fertilizer, with the ammonia from an organic source, ma}^ 

 be used. The quantit}^ required will vary according to the concentra- 

 tion of the particular brand, the character of the soil in which the 

 trees are growing, and the age of the trees. Fifteen pounds per tree 

 per year of fertilizer prepared according to the following formula will 

 be found good for growmg trees four or five years old: Ammonia, 5 

 per cent; potash, 6 per cent; phosphoric acid, 6 per cent. 



