Los Angeles herald., 1891-11-08
Typical Facts About South
ern California Lands.
Some Valuable Information
About Fertilizers.
Introduction of the Blastophaga to
California Fig Orchards.
How to Make Intelligent Use of Fertil-
izersl- Information From Fresno
About Fig Culture When
to Fertilize-Notes.

'.Feed the land and the land will feec
you'' was the maxim OF the past, but
the latest investigations have added 9
new rule, which is more pertinent and
forceful, to wit, "Feed the plant and the
plant will feed you"
This means that we should apply the
fertilizers intelligently, such as the
plant requires, and at such times as il
can take up and assimilate the food
offered. 1t would be just as sensible to
dump q months feed before horse and
tell him to help himself for that period,
as to cart years supply Sf fertilizer
into the Ifchard and expect the best re-
suits. In both cases large percentage
would be wasted before it could be util-
lied by animal or plant, and another
large percentage would not be utilized,
because not needed by either horse or
plant.
Finely ground meal from unsteamed
bones is complete fertilizer for fruit
trees, as it contains the three principal
ingredients required, viz: phosphoric
acid, potash and nitrogen. 1t is not
quite as active as the acid phosphates,
but more permanent in it's effects.
Acid phosphate is simply bone meal
dissolved in sulphuric acid, to which is
added gypsum, ashes or other similar
material as drier. The practice of
adding to this the nitrate of soda is
wasteful and unnecessary, as the nitrates
are better applied separately and in more
frequent doses.
Gypsum is not fertilizer in the sense
that phosphoric acid and nitrogen or
ammonia are used. 1t is simply the
sulphate of lime, and, by its presence in
the soil and affinity for water, assists in
forming chemical combinations that fur
nish food for the plants from material
already there. It is valuable as an
absorbent of ammonia.
Nitrate of soda is one OF the most ex-
peneive methods of supplying nitrogen,
and should be applied to fruit trees dur
ing the growth OF the plant, in small
quantities at a time, and more fire.
Quently than other fertilizers. 1t pro-
duces q luxuriant growth of wood and
large specimens of fruit. The spongy
growth of oranges in many groves is
largely due to excessive use of sheep
manure, which is in its best estate rich
in nitrogen.
The formation OF seed taxes the vital
ity of trees and vines much more than
the growth of the pulp, hence it has
been found OF great advantage to both
trees and vines in bearing to give a suit
able dressing of fertilizer at that time.
The cost of fertilizing che orchards is
becoming serious question to our fruit
nomically. and from materials within
their own resources, shall be our aim.-
[California Cultivator. {.
WORK OF THE BLAsToPHAGA.
Last year the Expositor noted the re-
suit Of an experiment tried by George
G. Roeding in fertilizing the fruit of an
imported Smyrna fig tree, by applying
the pollen from wild or male fig to it by
means of toothpick. Encouraged by
his last years experience, Mr.. Roeding
went at the matter more extensively
this season, and as result has secured
something like hundred fertilized figs.
An examination of the fruit shows
the seeds to be fully developed and the
meat of the fruit to be rich, pulpy and
similar in general appearance and flavor
to the imported Smyrna fig. Compared
with good sample of the white Adriatic
the most inexperienced can readily dis
cover the many points of superiority
possessed by the Smyrna fruit. But
inasmuch as the Smyrna figs will not
mature without being fertilized with the
pollen of the wild fig, the trees will be
valueless until the blastophaga
which infests the male fig
trees of Smyrna, and which then
conveys the. pollen to the edible figs,
thus fertilIzing them, can be procured.
It was announced some weeks ago that
a party at Niles, in Alameda county,
had secured this insect, but later reports
say that they did not survive, so more
will have to be imported. This Mr..
Roeding proposes doing another season,
and until they are secured the fig
eating people of California will have to
content themselves with the fruit of the
white Adriatic.
The Smyrna fig trees are profuse bear
ers, and once the blastophaga is intro
duced and acclimated the fig problem
will be solved and Fresno county will
enter the field and contest with Asia for
the American market.
There are thousands of acres of land
in this county suited to fig growing.
These acres should be brought under
cultivation and planted to figs. By the
time the trees come into bearing it is
certain that the fertilizing insect will be
here and ready for work.
There is no tree more easily grown
than the fg.. Our dry, warm atmos-
phere and mild winters are just what
the fig tree wants. The numerous ways
the fig can be put into market will make
it valuable adjunct to our norticul-
tural resources. The fig can be eaten
fresh; it makes an excellent pickle
preserved or made into jam it is deli
cacy fit for anybody; it makes most
delicious comfit, and there is no dried
fruit that equals it. In the latter form
the fig can be grown, cured and prepared
for market at less expense than any
other fruit. There is great future for
figs Fresno Expositor.
EXAMINE YOUR TREE CONTRACTS.
We caution our readers who may con-
template setting out any trees in Caiifor-
mia during the coming season on two
points:
First Have inserted in your contract
that the trees shall be delivered to you
absolutely free from scale bugs or any
insect pest of any description, each con-
signment to be inspected by the local
inspector and have his written certificate
OF cleanness; the expenses OF inspection
to be borne by the seller.
Second-In case the trees are OF some
stone fruit variety grown on peach
roots, be sure the peach pits are of