116 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
may be planted and good results secured 
by the use of so-called commercial ferti¬ 
lizers. These consist mainly of tankage, 
blood, bone, nitrate of soda, sulphate of 
ammonia, muriate of potash, sulphate of 
potash, lime, boneblack and dried fish. 
APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS. 
The so-called organic fertilizers, such 
as tankage, blood, bone and dried fish, 
are no doubt valuable for plant growth, 
but their exclusive use is detrimental to 
the health of the tree. On very good 
soil, rich in humus, strictly chemical fer¬ 
tilizers are much superior and give a 
higher quality of fruit. Organic ferti¬ 
lizers on most soils may be used during 
the first four years in moderate quantity, 
but never exclusively. Our own prac¬ 
tice has been to alternate fertilizers in 
the same manner as many farmers alter¬ 
nate their crops. 
At the first application on straw¬ 
berries we use at the rate of 600 pounds 
to the acre of a special vegetable ferti¬ 
lizer, mixing it in the row two weeks 
before planting. The next application, 
a month later, we use tankage at the 
rate of 400 pounds sowed in a shallow 
furrow made with a hand plow close to 
the plant. A third application of 400 
pounds of high-grade sulphate of potash 
is made as the plants begin to bloom, 
sown broadcast very carefully so as not 
to injure the foliage or bloom. This is 
cultivated in with the harrow or rakes. 
If it is desired to secure very late pick¬ 
ings, another application of a complete 
fruit fertilizer may be given during Feb¬ 
ruary or early March. It is only a mat¬ 
ter of fertility and sufficient moisture 
to be able to pick strawberries from De¬ 
cember 20 to July 1. 
Where the soil is rich in humus the 
exclusive use of a high-grade, strictly 
chemical fertilizer analyzing four per 
cent ammonia, six per cent, phosphoric 
acid and fourteen per cent, sulphate of 
potash is advisable. Five hundred 
pounds should be sown in the row and 
well mixed with soil three weeks before 
the planting of the strawberries, and 500 
pounds should be broadcasted between 
the rows about December 1. 
Very nearly the same kind, quantity 
and method of fertilizing will answer also 
for pineapples. The addition of 500 
pounds of high-grade tobacco dust 
broadcasted over the beds dusting the 
leaves well is advisable twice a year. 
CITRUS FRUITS NEED PLENTY. 
For many years past growers of citrus 
have not fertilized enough to get maxi¬ 
mum results. We are safe in saying 
that our groves of orange and pomelo 
may be made to produce a profitable 
crop one and two years earlier than the 
general average for the past ten years. 
For several years past our nurserymen 
have recommended the use of one pound 
of fertilizer the first year. This may do 
on very good soil, but three pounds in 
three applications the first year is little 
enough on our average citrus land. The 
second year use six pounds, the third 
year twelve pounds, and you may look 
for a profitable crop the fourth year. 
The treatment recommended for 
strawberries and pineapples is of little 
value unless timely rains give sufficient 
moisture. Growers, knowing this, se¬ 
lect lands naturally moist, and if favored 
