94 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
First Application. 
Just before or about the time that the 
first blossoms appear we make a light ap¬ 
plication or not over one-half of the usual 
amount of fertilizer, containing about 
six per cent, each of nitrogen, phosphoric 
acid and potash—^the nitrogen being from 
nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia, 
the phosphoric acid from acid phosphate, 
and the potash from a sulphate. 
The object of this heavy percentage of 
nitrogen is that, while the trees need a 
maximum amount of this element dur¬ 
ing the spring months, owing to our usual 
drought during these months, they as a 
rule get less than during any other warm 
months of the year; hence, I apply more 
and apply it in a shape that is available at 
once—the nitrate of soda first and the sul¬ 
phate of ammonia to last until the next 
application. I find that trees so treated 
with this extra amount of nitrogen at 
this time will hold their fruit better and 
stand the drought better than if only the 
usual amount of nitrogen was used. Nor 
do I find die-back to follow this plan, or 
fear it, provided that there is no excess of 
ammonia left in the ground when the 
rainy season sets in. 
Second Application. 
During May we make a liberal applica¬ 
tion analyzing from two and one-half to 
three and one-half per cent, ammonia, 
seven to ten per cent, phosphoric acid and 
twelve per cent, potash, composed of sul¬ 
phate of ammonia, steamed bone flour and 
sulphate of potash. Whether the trees get 
the two and one-half or the three and 
one-hart per cent, of ammonia depends 
upon their color—the lighter in color the 
more ammonia, and vice versa; also upon 
variety, as a tangerine will not only 
stand one-third more nitrogen than a 
round orange on the same stock, but really 
requires it, in order to produce the highly 
colored fruit necessary to command high 
prices. 
Third Application. 
If trees are heavily loaded with fruit, 
by July we make a light application of 
equal parts of low grade potash and acid 
phosphate, but use no nitrogen unless 
leaves are light in color and fruit small, 
and even then a very light per cent., as all 
ammoniates in the ground during the 
rainy season are by the heat and mois¬ 
ture rapidly nitrified and carried into the 
tree. In short, the rainy months are the 
die-back producing ones, and hence all 
excess of nitrogen should then be guard¬ 
ed against. If trees do not have a heavy 
crop, omit this July application. 
Fonrtli Application. 
During November we use a liberal 
amount of fertilizer, running three per 
cent, ammonia, seven per cent phosphoric 
acid and twelve per cent, potash, compos¬ 
ed of sulphate of ammonia, acid phos¬ 
phate and sulphate of potash, which com¬ 
pletes the bill of fare for the year. While 
the trees may not be able to use as high a 
percentage of nitrogen during November 
and December as during May and June, 
on the other hand, owing to the cooler 
weather prevailing during the former 
months, nitrification of the ammoniates 
also proceeds less rapidly and, therefore, 
the tree gets less, even though the same 
amount be applied. 
Of course, the above is for healthy trees, 
abnormal conditions requiring modified 
formulas, and for rough lemon stock one- 
third less nitrogen than for sweet seedling 
stock. At all times we keep a close watch 
on the condition of the tree and vary the 
