The St. Johns herald., 1898-12-17
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.


 
 When it is considered that citrus and deciduous fruit culture is the chie1 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 we'll 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, thewisdom 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 it 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 A been demonstrated that JHa appiication 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, the 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 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 sufi- 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 potash is defi- cient in the soil and is supplied with the fertilizer. In this section we have oIN, do af iy1 Eho nd water, but are lacking in phosphoric acids, which must be furnished our trees and plants by commercial fertil- izers.
 It is a significant fact that the ex- periments made recently in Southern California with proper commercial fer tilizers have shown such remarkable 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 sv-stv e Ctssi-fys-tt-ysts ment stations and others who have made a practical study of fertilization. It is now conceded by every one who has given the question study ana in vestigated the work of commercial fer tilizers that we need them in our (fruit) business to obtain the best financial results.
 This article is intended as a refec- ton 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 1 time has arrived when this important | matter must be given attention by the | producer and propagator.
 In regard to the essential elements required by the soil of Southern Cali l 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 1 ter is printed herewith:
 University of California, College of |
 Agriculture.
 Berkeley, Cal, Nov. 18th, 1898.
 H. B. Lawrence, Alhambra Advo- | cate: Dear Sir:-Answering yours of | the 14th inst, I state that I have all | along strongly recommended the use of phosphate fertilizers in South Cali fornia soils, for the reason that outside the alkali districts, phosphoric acid is in exceedingly scant supply; more so than any other of the important soil 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 arn California soils, and generally not among the first ingredients whose re- placement is required.
 Very Respectfully,
 E. w HILGARD.
 Takirr fha risk Cf giving this ar -icle an advertising complexion, the ed tor is determined to announce for the henpfit Of fhe nuh1ic at large The fact l