Fertilizing and Irrigation* 
BY E. D. PUTNEY, OF AVON PARK. 
The successful and hence profitable 
production of different fruits demands 
such variable conditions, properties and 
proportions of soil, sunshine, air, ferti¬ 
lizer and moisture as are best suited to 
the particular species of fruit-bearing 
plant. 
We are obliged to add to our title 
“Soil, Sunshine and Air,” because they 
are so inter-related with fertilizing 
that one is of no effect without the oth¬ 
ers. Indeed, it may be truly said that 
soil, sunshine, air, manure and moisture 
are all elements of fertility. 
The conditions necessary to the suc¬ 
cessful growth of the pineapple differ 
materially from those necessary to the 
successful growth of the citrus. The 
pineapple and strawberry will succeed 
on comparatively shallow soil with a 
maximum amount of fertilizer and 
moisture and a minimum amount of sun¬ 
shine and air. The citrus must have a 
liberal depth of soil together with a min¬ 
imum amount of fertilizer and moisture 
and a maximum amount of sunshine and 
air. The peach, however, demands a 
maximum amount of soil, fertilizer, sun¬ 
shine and air and a minimum amount of 
moisture.. The peach requires more air 
than any other fruit. 
Air is best secured to the roots of fruit 
plants by use of the plow, cultivator, 
harrow and rake. 
Sunshine we have nearly always with 
us, soil we may select, and fertilizing 
elements we may save from refuse on 
our estates and by purchase; moisture 
we may secure by irrigation. 
HOW TO OBTAIN FERTILITY. 
In Florida most soils suitable for 
fruits are lacking in fertilizing elements. 
How best to build up such soils is the 
great economical question for horticul¬ 
turists. Nearly all fruit growers in 
Florida give the soil credit for more 
power to produce a crop than it really 
has. Hence many failures. We do not 
believe that with the present low price 
of good land that it will pay to try to 
improve poor land by planting cowpeas, 
velvet beans, etc., with the intention of 
turning them under. Land good 
enough to produce a crop of peas or 
beans to work into the soil will produce 
a crop of crab-grass, which is quite as 
good for the purpose of soil renovation 
as peas or beans. If groves already 
planted need a grass covering, it may be 
secured by harrowing in about 500 
pounds of blood and bone to the acre, 
applied about June 1 on land that has 
been cultivated at least twice within 
three weeks previous. No seeding is 
necessary for crab-grass. 
Where the soil is good to start with 
and crabgrass comes in promptly, a tree 
