The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1896-05-19
HORTICULTURE
FACTS FOR FRUIT GROWERS


Correspondence of the Progressive Farmer.
There is one fact which my eleven
years experience in fruit growing has
impressed on me most strongly. That
is the uneuitabl8ness of all, or nearly
ALL the commercial fertilizers to the
fruit growers needs.
Most fertiliz RS are recommended as
good fer every thing that grows beneath
the sun. While the truth is that diff
ferent crops and even the same crop on
different soils, need the three great
properties, ammonia, potash and phos
phorus, In widely varying proportions,
to feed oil crops and all soils alike is
not whit less Irrational than for one
to feed all the animals and fowls on his
place on exactly the same diet, instead
of on the special grain or forage suited
to each.
Comparatively few of us are able to
have all the widely varying soils on our
farms analysed. Nor is it essential
that we should, A few inexpensive
experiments aud close observation will
keep us better informed as to the need
of each than all the chemist can do.
For a soil often undergoes rapid
changes, and it's needs to day may. not
be it's needs a few years hence.
But an analy sis Of the crop one PRO
poses to grow is easily within his reach,
and no man can afford to ignore it.
This is particularly necessary in the
case of the fruit grower, owing to the
fact that the commercial fertilizers
rarely or never contain the three great
staples of plant food in anything like
the proportion which his crop must
have if success is to be attained.
The analyses of all kinds of fruit
show the presence of large quantities
of potash. Thus a ton of peaches con
tains SO pounds of potash, II pounds
phosphoric acid, fair proportion Of
nitrogen or ammonia and little lime,
magnesia, etc. Strawberries contain a
still larger proportion Of potash, ton
of this fruit showing go pounds potash,
% pounds phosphoric acid and about
the same proportion of other p1 opo critics
that peaches contain.
Now the commercial fertil ,zer5 sold
in my neighborhood show in different
brands from to q per cent. ammonia,
5 to s per cent. phosphoric acid and 2
to 3 per cent. potash, These fertilizers
are plainly unsuitable for fruit, though
thousands of dollars are yearly wasted
in applying them to that crop. AS
rule they contain more phoephoric acid
than potash, while fruit calls for three
times as much potash as phosphOric
acid. The ammonia, too, is far in ex
cess Of the right proportion. Specially
prepared fruit fertilizers do not, it is
true, show the same disproportioD;
still after testing great many brands,
Ifnd that 1 cannot only make cheaper,
but what is far more important, better
fertilizers than can buy.
The following formula find to pay
we'll for Strawberries Or other small
fruit on all soils from extreme sandi
ness to tariff clay: Per acre, 800 pounds
kainit and 400 muriate potash, 600
dissolved bone or acid phosphate, 400
pounds nitrate soda or 900 to 800 pounds
cotton seed meal. Break all Jumps and
mix thoroughly with hoes. Apply half
or two-thirds in spring before crop
is planted, narrowing in we'll. Apply
half the remainder as top dressing over
plants in November and the remainder
in February or March following. The
mixture will not hurt if sown in winter,
while plants arein dormant state, New
ersow anything on them while in grow
ing state If it is desired to apply fer
tilizers at other times, they can be
plowed or chopped in by the side OF or
around the plants.
The above is no theoretical formula.
Tt was learned in the school of expert
ence. whose tuition comes SO high.
have used it for years, and find it to
give better results in size and quality