Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-10-27
EVERYDAY WANTS AND BUSINESS DIRECTORY
HIwns GREATEST OPPORTUNITY FOR LARGE RETURNS SMALL INVESTMENTS

show its effects in an increased Leaf
development and in a deep green and
healthy color impaired to the growing
plants. Nitrogen in the other forms
can best be Incorporated in the mixed
fertilizers and need not be applied sep.
arately.
In general II may be said that for
those crops which have a quick growth
and early maturity all fertilizers
should be in a soluble and available
form so that the crop can appropriate
its food at once, while for fruit trees
which grow for years, mixture OF
bone meal or some other organic mate.
rial mixed with sulphate of potash
should be used.
Method Of Application.
A word as to the methods Of applica.
ton: In the case Of vegetables the
fertilizers should be worked into the
soil before planting, except in the
case of such substances as nitrate OF
soda, which can be applied as a top
dressing. In planting of fruit trees a
ioi 50 hoit Dt uhb anu Nhf ooli
taken therefrom mixed thoroughly
with two or three pounds Of fertilizer
and replaced. A young tree planted in
this way will show remarkable root
development during the first few years
and will form foundation for future
vigorous and healthy growth. Fruit
trees can also be fortified at any time
by scattering the fertilizer around the
roots OF the trees at distances depend.
ing on the age of the tree, and worked
into the soil as thoroughly as possible
without disturbing the roots. AS the
tree grows older the roots run further
and further from the main stem and
the application should be made over a
wider circle.
over-Irrieation.
II will not be out Of place for me to
say few words about the loss of fer.
tilizing ingredients from over.irriga.
ton or heavy rains. These red soils
have remarkable retentive power for
potashes. phosphates and nitrogen
when the latter is in the form of sui.
phate of ammonia. | have recently
completed a series of experiments on
these points and find that practically
the whole of these are fixed within
six inches of the surface, even where
the ingredients are soluble in water and
heavy irrigation follows the applica.
ton. Indeed, so rapidly are they fixed
and held by the soil that II they are
scattered over the surface for the wa.
ter to carry down to the plant roots
they may be fixed too near the surface.
A thorough working in of the fertiliz.
ers with the soil is, therefore, advis.
able. What has just been said does
not hold it, hence the chance of loss
from either a heavy irrigation or
large rainfall.
Farm.yard Manure.
Before closing, ! must speak Of the
great economic value of farm.yard ma
nure. Situated, as you are, away
from the railroad, where freights are
heavy, every substance about the farm
OF manurial value should be careful.
ly saved. Chemical analysis of ma.
nure shows that It Is not rich in the
clements of plant food and 1t must be
put on the soil in comparatively large
doses TO give good results. Experience
however, has shown that both vege.
tables and fruits do well with a dress.
Ing of manure, and am impressed
that II has a greater value than its
chemical analysis indicates. For one
thing, II contains considerable guam.
tity OF organic matter. which on some
soils Is very advantageous. II is sup.
posed also to exert an influence on the
plant food already stored in the soil
and to render II more available.
Where much manure can be saved 1t
would be advisable to compost ii with
kainit, cheap potash salt, which
tends TO preserve 1t and protect II
from loss of nitrogen. The kainit II.
self, being a potash compound, will
add greatly TO the value of the manure
In that II adds the very element that
the soil is in so much need of.
In this paper | have not said much
about special fertilizers for special
crops" While II is advisable to
change fbe formula of a fertilizer in
going from one crop to another, it is
lot advisable to have a special brand
or each vegetable that you produce.
)ne good brand of vegetable fertilizer
md another for fruit trees, together
with special materials, like nitrate of
soda, as the occasion demands, will be
al the requirements, so far as ma
lures are concerned, for successful
,ropping. While the requirements of
each plant are different from the re.
luirements of any other plant, it is not
advisable to specialize too much
where, as in your case, the area of cul.
ovation is small and the number of
products large.
PORTO RICO POLITICS.