FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 103 
Fertilizing Orange Groves. 
IPrepared and read by Benj. N. Bruit, of Huntington, Putnam county, 
member Standing Committee on Fertilizers. 
My experience with fertilizers has been with their use in 
orange groves onty. I can give but little positive information 
and shall confine myself to a few suggestions, hoping to pro¬ 
voke discussion and elicit information from the members 
present. 
Io is generally accepted that the three principal elements 
required in a fertilizer are potash, phosphoric acid and nitrogen. 
What we want is to obtain these elements, either separately 
or mixed, at the lowest market price and in the best form. 
What is the best form of each of these elements, and what 
is the best combination? 
It is commonly believed that sulphate of potash is the best 
form in which to apply potash to orange trees. Has it been 
proved by exhaustive experiments ? 
We get phosphoric acid from various sources and in various 
forms. Which is the best ? 
The question of nitrogen is still more important. It is 
probable that the health of our trees and the quality of our 
fruit is affected by the quantity and form of nitrogen which 
we apply more than by either of the other elements. What 
is the best form ? 
From my own observation I venture the opinion that nitro¬ 
gen applied in crude waste animal materials is detrimental to 
the quality of the fruit if not to the health of the trees. 
If we resort to pure chemicals what shall we use ? 
It seems to be established beyond question that we can 
grow a large part of the required nitrogen, in our younger 
groves at least. 
The beggar-weed and cow-pea undoubtedly gather free 
nitrogen from the air and store it in both their tops and roots 
While I believe most fertilizer manufacturers are honest, 
under present conditions we are at their mercy. Our fertilizer 
law does not give us adequate protection. 
There is a solution of the problem which can be brought 
