Mesa free press., 1898-12-09
FARM AND ORCHARD
Some Interesting News for the
RuraIiSt
PROPER FERTILIZATION.
A Subject of Much Interest to Fruit
Growers-Prof. Hilgard's Let
ter-PhosphOric Acid.

industry of Southern California, the
production of which brings revenue
OF millions of dollars yearly, it is sin
gular that orchardists do not pay more
attention to fertilization of fruit trees.
They well know that orchardists in the
East and South, Florida especially,
have for years fed their trees with
proper fertilizers and proven by in
creased crops of finer fruit and more
healthy and vigorous stock, ewisdom
Of applying proper food to the tree.
Careful experiments and reliable sta
tistics concerning the use of fertilizers,
have also shown conclusively the supe-
riority of the commercial article select
ed by scientific method and specially
adapted to the soil where 1t is applied,
by furnishing to the tree life-giving
food that is lacking in the soil, over
ordinary manures, which are quite gen.
orally used. Stable, or sheep manures
are better than no fertilizer, but they
do not contain the elements necessary
in proper proportion for the perfect
progress of the stock and fruit. It has
been demonstrated that the application
of commercial fertilizers has prevented
crop failures, caused by excessive dry
or wet seasons, frosts and the various
parasitic diseases from which trees
suffer. The fruit natures earlier, tho
yield is increased in many instances
thirty to fifty per cent, there are fewer
culls, the fruit is firmer, with smoother
and thinner skin, more juice and has
better keeping and shipping qualities.
An authority says that a perfect tree
is one whose production of fruit, wood
and leaf is evenly balanced, and nei-
ther excessive. These results can on
ly be obtained by the use of a fertilizer
properly adapted to the soil from
which the tree draws it's life.
First ascertain by proper analysis
the ingredients of the soil where you
wish to grow successfully trees, plants
or vegetables and then supply the ele-
mentary food that is deficient. Very
few out of the many orchardists in
Southern California have given suff1-
cient thought to this important sub
ject. The majority have simply ap-
piled water and expected the virgin
soil to do the rest. Others have applied
commercial fertilizers adapted more
especially to soils in the East and
South. A fertilizer that produces sue
cessful results in Florida is not fully
adapted to the soil of Southern Califor-
MIA. In the former section potashis def
cient in the soil and is supplied with
the fertilizer In this section we have
an abundance of potash in the soil and
water, bat are lacking in phosphoric
acids, which must be furnished our
trees and plants by commercial fertil-
izers.
1t Is a significant fact that the ex-
periments made recently in Southern
California with proper commercial fer
tilizers have shown uchremarkable re-
suits that the eyes of our horticultu-
rists and farmers have been opened
and they are becoming educated upon
this most important subject. They are
assisted largely by matter from the
state agricultural college and expert
ment stations and others who have
made practical study of fertilization.
1t is now conceded by every one who
has given the question study and in
vestigated the work of commercial fer
tilizers that we need them in our
(fruit) business to obtain the best
financial results.
tion of existing conditions regarding
the fertilization of fruit trees, plants,
nuts and vegetables in Southern Cal
ifornia. We claim that all plant life
can be highly encouraged by the ap-
plication of proper fertilizers and the
time has arrived when this important
matter must be given attention by the
producer and propagation.
s In regard to the essential elements
required by the soil Of Southern Cali
fornia, the writer has been fortunate
enough to secure the written opinion
of Prof. E. w. Hilgard, for many years
the able director of the State Agricul-
tural College of the University of Cali
fornia, than whom no better author
ity could be found. The important let
ter is printed herewith:
University of California, College of
Agriculture.
Berkeley, Cal, Nov. 10th, 1898.
H. e. Lawrence, Alhambra Advo-
cate: Dear Sir:-Answering yours of
the 14th inst, state that I have all
along strongly recommended the use
of phosphate fertilizers in South Cali
fornia soils, for the reason that outside
SAC olho1A OAoLA 4Slo, PAO0PhOAAN eSSAu ID
in exceedingly scant supply; more so
than any other of the important soil
ingredients. Usually next in import
ance, because likewise deficient, espe-
cially in the mesa soils, is nitrogen,
which, according to circumstances,
may be supplied in the form of Chile
saltpetre, tankage or ammonia salts.
Potash is relatively abundant in South
ern California soils, and generally not
among the first ingredients whose re-
placement is required.
Very Respectfully,
e. w. HILGARD.
Taking the risk of giving this ar
ticle an advertising complexion, the ed
itor is determined to announce for the
benefit Of the public at large the fact
that the West Coast Fertilizer Works
OF Los Angeles, Cal, after the closest
scientific study of California soil and
practical application, have produced
commercial fertilizers that are exceed
ingly rich in phosphoric acid and are
certainly best adapted to our oranges, |