82 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
Mr. -: Isn't there a difference in 
the soil which would determine the dif¬ 
ference in the quantity? I mean, the dif¬ 
ference in the amount of fertilizer to be 
applied ? 
Dr. Ross: Of course, I suppose there 
should be a difference in the practice in 
the different sections of the state. Please 
remember I was alluding- to the light pine 
soil in Polk County. In this low-lying, 
heavier soil, I am not prepared to say. 
Mr.-: There is a good deal of dif¬ 
ference in the soils in this county alone. A 
large area of this county, the analysis of 
the soil by the Department of Agricul¬ 
ture at Washington and by the state, an 
average in ammonia is 3 to 4 per cent, 
phosphoric acid, about .35 per cent, and 
potash one-tenth of 1 per cent. Several 
young groves are being planted out on 
this ground, and vegetables of all descrip¬ 
tions seem to thrive without the aid of 
any fertilizer whatever. This has been 
done for several years. 
It seems evident, however, that sooner 
or later we must have potash and phos¬ 
phoric acid to add to the soil so that it 
will balance up the ammonia contained 
in the soil. 
Speaking about the potash that Nature 
provides. There is very little potash in a 
soil that analyzes ten-one-hundredths of 
1 per cent, yet our vegetables harden up 
well and stand shipments on that small 
percentage of potash. 
