174 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
all the acidity left by one per cent of 
plant food from either of these materi¬ 
als. Therefore, it is easy to see that 
there is no financial profit either in 
running the chances of loss by leaching 
or of paying for frequent applications of 
nitrate of soda to take the place of 
sulphate of ammonia or to substitute 
nitrate of potash for sulphate of potash. 
One very mistaken conception as to 
acid tendency is the belief that acid- 
treated phosphates tend to acidity here 
it: Florida. It is true they have this ten¬ 
dency in soils where there is a natural 
potash content, but here in Florida con¬ 
ditions are different. It we had this 
natural potash we could well afford the 
acidity, for, for every four cents worth 
of lime to correct it, we would receive 
one dollar and ten cents worth of pot¬ 
ash, reckoning the potash at the prices 
ruling before the European war so in¬ 
creased its market value. 
don't worry about "acid" 
All fertilizer materials tend to acidity 
or alkalinity according to whether the 
tree uses the base or the acid radicle. 
In the nitrates and phosphates the acid 
element is used thus the tendency is 
toward alkalinity; while in sulphate of 
ammonia and the different potashes 
the base is used, leaving the acid radi¬ 
cle to hunt other bases. Lime is the 
best of all bases for agricultural soil. 
Acids are essential to plant life, both 
directly as food and indirectly in break¬ 
ing down soil compounds, but they 
must be neutralized or the friendly soil 
organisms cannot multiply and prosper. 
Use plenty of lime, choose the fertilizer 
materials giving best direct results and 
waste no time worrying about "acid" if 
you want to get the best results for the 
least money, for you can buy lime 
cheaper in car lots than in fertilizer. 
We sometimes hear of young trees 
not doing well even though the land 
is well drained, cleared properly, and 
thoroughly limed. This more often 
than not is due to ill setting. The 
trees are set too low or the roots are 
mot properly spread; again, severe 
scale infestation takes place. These. 
things must be corrected before right 
results are obtained however much or 
however good fertilizer may be used. 
ADVERSE FACTORS 
In bearing groves, maximum crops 
cannot be expected if heavy rains occur 
frequently through the blooming period 
to wash the pollen from the blossoms, 
and fancy fruit will not be produced 
if the tree is affected with melanose or 
scab, or if there is heavy infestation of 
whitefly, scale, or rust mite. None of 
these troubles are in any way connect¬ 
ed with fertilization. 
As in every other business, there is 
no one decisive factor in citrus grow¬ 
ing. "Eternal vigilance" is the price of 
success, but where intelligent effort is 
put forth the citrus tree responds most 
generously, and to anyone hesitating 
before the many problems confronting 
him we point out with pride our flour¬ 
ishing groves and happy, prosperous 
homes and say: "Come ye and do like¬ 
wise." 
