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ORANGE CULTURE. 



In forming a compost heap, the farmer should bear in mind 

 the particular purpose to which it is to be applied, since neither 

 all trees nor all crops take kindly to the same sort of food. 

 There is as much difference, comparatively, in the food of the 

 different members of the vegetable kingdom, as there is in that of 

 the animal. A horse will not eat flesh, nor a dog hay ; neither 

 will all trees flourish on the same nutriment. 



Every intelligent horticulturist is aware of this fact, and 

 acts accordingly, being guided in the application of manures by 

 the analysis of the ash of such plants and trees as they cultivate. 

 It is on this principle and on this basis that the " special ma- 

 nures " are manufactured, each containing the j)articular ingre- 

 dients needed by the particular plants to which it is intended to 

 be applied ; one may need a larger amount of ammonia that the 

 soil naturally furnishes, another more phosphates, another more 

 nitrogen. When these special fertilizers are made by honest 

 manufacturers, they are very valuable aids to the farmers and 

 fruit growers, either used alone, or mixed with the compost heap. 



Analysis shows that the ash of the orange tree and fruit 

 contains a larger percentage of potash, lime, and phosphoric 

 acid, besides smaller quantities of other mineral ingredients ; 

 hence these are substances, conjoined with sufficient vegetable 

 matter to retain moisture, that the orange grower must feed to 

 his trees. 



And now, how are these to be obtained? Easily, and by 

 every man who chooses, for they are all about him in profusion, 

 needing only to be vitalized by a provident, thrifty hand. 



Pine land, on which the bulk of the orange fruit is raised, 

 is deficient in vegetable humus, which is as necessary to the 

 proper growth and nourishment of the tree as any other ingre- 

 dient ; perhaps, more so, since this humus has proven to be the * 

 most important vehicle of assimilation of the other foods; for 

 instance, the analysis of a soil may show lime to be needed, and 

 lime is forthwith applied, and without effect ; but, powerless to 

 work alone, combine it with humus, which, as every one knows, 

 is simply decayed vegetable matter, and then its effect will be 

 quickly visible. 



