438 MANAGING ORCHARD SOILS AND FERTILIZING TREES 



much foliage might be produced that the color of the fruit 

 would be poor. 



Early nitrate applications have given excellent results, but 

 as peach trees bloom earlier and normally grow later in the 

 season than apple trees, and as early fruit-spur growth is not a 

 factor, it may be wise to delay the application of fertilizer 

 until after danger of frost is over and the "seV' of fruit can be 

 determined. If the crop should be lost by frosts, less nitrate, 

 of course, should be applied. It is possible that other nitrogen 

 carriers will be found to be as satisfactory as nitrate of soda 

 for peaches. 



Very little evidence is available relative to the fertilization 

 of apricots, but since they are so similar in growth and fruiting 

 to the peach and Japanese plum, it is reasonable to suppose 

 that they will respond to similar fertilizer practices. 



Sour cherry fertilizer experiments have shown that this 

 fruit also responds well in growth and production to applica- 

 tions of quickly available nitrogen. As a rule, no direct benefit 

 has been derived from the addition of acid phosphate or potash, 

 except in the very light, sandy soils. Practically no fertilizer 

 experiments have been conducted with sweet cherries, but it 

 would appear that nitrogen applications would be beneficial 

 whenever these trees show the need of fertilization. 



Very little experimental evidence is available relative to the 

 fertilization of plums, but orchard observations indicate that 

 nitrogen applications will generally be beneficial for all com- 

 mercial species, if satisfactory growth and yields are not being 

 secured without them. 



The Pear and Quince. Since both these fruits are so sus- 

 ceptible to fire blight, it is very questionable whether any fer- 

 tilizer should be added to the cultivated orchard, unless the 

 soil is so low in fertility that very little growth results. If the 

 orchards are in sod, it will probably pay to add small amounts 

 of a quickly available nitrogen carrier, such as nitrate of soda, 

 about a month before growth starts. This will stimulate early 

 growth and assist in the setting of fruit. The growth of gras,? 



