The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1904-02-05
The Farm and Grove.
Copyrighted By Rural Press Syndicate
II. 3. STOcKBRlDGE, Phi. D., Editor.
FERTILIzINe THE GROVE.

Methods must, of course, vary with
locality, age and condition of trees
and many modifying conditions of
soil and environment. In short ar
ticle it is utterly impossible to meet
all these conditions or fit all eases
There are, however, many facts and
principles universally applicable.
| Many of these are constantly trans
gressed; others might be given great
er attention or more careful observa-
ton with advantage. 1t will be my
endeavor tOpoint out facts of general
application.
A few suggestions as to the special
adaptations or use of each of the
three necessary plant foods are called
for. PhosphorIc acid eXerts its in
| fluence more on the tree itself than
on the fruit. Lack of a sufficient
supply is frequently manifested by II
notified or slightly variagated APP
pearance of the leaves. This is par
ticularly noticed in the newly
formed, partly grown foliage. This
appearance disappears soon after the
| application of acid phosphate. The
result is probably partly due to the
,ction of the sulphuric acid, AWAY 5
present in manufactured phosphates,
in liberating other plant food in tht
,Oil. Nitrogen specially influences
leaf and wood development. Rank
| growth is the sure indication OF
abundance of this material. Light
;olored leaves and apparent lack of
Higor are strong indications of lack
If sufficient nitrogen. Heavy, Juicy
fruit indicates plenty of nitrOse /;
and the reverse, light fruit with su-
perabundance of rag is sign of d, =
hclency OF supply. Excess in the
supply is indicated by rank, sappy
growth, tendency to die back and
rough, thick skinned fruit. Potash
eXerts great influence on the general
vigor of the tree; its most decisive
influence is on the color, character,
flavor and sweetness of the fruit.
The ripening or hardening of the
wood is materially influenced by this
material, so that naturally the nard-
mess of the tree is in this way greatly
| influenced
Next to the specific action of each
Of the three essential fertilizers, the
sources of supply which eXperit nee
| proves to be the most economical
and successful in results, is the most
| important practical consideration.
Economy o. cost is the only import
INT consideration in selecting the
phOSphoric acid supply. For the
Tree, the less soluble and more slowly
acting forms are satisfactory
Thomas Stag, bone meal and soft
| phosphate come under this head.
for bearing groves and quicker re-
~ults acid phosphate is the preferable
| orm. Great precaution is needed in
rrlgcting the source of nitrogen sup
ply. Organic nitrogen, either of ami
NAL or vegetable origin, must be used
with great caution. Stable manure
is never a proper form of supply. Its
we'll known tendency to produce die
,ack is an insurmountable obstacle
20 its use. Cotton seed meal, tank
tge and drit d blood are open to the
same objection ill Il slightly less de-
gree. Rank growth, susceptible to
:Old, thick skinned fruit and inferior
| davor are the results of the use of
| considerable quantities of these ma
erials. Sulphate of ammonia and
nitrate of soda are the desirable
sources of nitrogen, and cost of the
actual plant food supplied may safely
determine the choice. The potash
nay be changed to meet the require
,nents of the tree during different
stages. The young tree is most eco
lOmically fortified with the muriatt
of potash. The bearing grove should
'e supplied with the high grade sui
| .jhate.
The former possesses an important
property often entirely overlooked.
IT. increases capillary action in the
soil and consequently increases the
amount of moisture available to trees
turing times OF drought. This is o.
special Importance to the owner OF
groves on dry, sandy land, where the
rees sometimes receive much dam
.ge during the MAY drought" Th,
Use of the muriate of potash as a fer
ilizer on such lands will often en-
tirely protect the trees from injury
from lack of moisture.
The time of application should be
timed to meet one or more of the Pc
RODS of dormancy which the tree has
every year. February, June and
| september meet this requirement.
and the results are better than if the
application is made while the tree is
in active growth. Late fall applica-
tions should be positively abandoned
because of their known tendency to
incite continued growth and greater
liability to damage from cold. The
former practice of applying only in a
| narrow circle Immediately around
the tree should be abandoned. The
circle of application should be en-
tended with the growth of the tree
till it eventually covers all the space
between rows. BY placing the fer
| tlliZer further from the trunk of the
tree the roots are made to extend in
order to reach their food, which they
will surely find. The root system is
IN this way increased, greater feed
| ing surface is secured and more water
brought within reach of the tree.
The quantities and proportions Of
the different ingredients which give
best results have been carefully
worked out. The needs of the aver
age bearing tree are supplied by 0.6
pound of phosphOric acid, Oh pound
of nitrogen and 0.6 pound OF potash
This material is furnished b. 40
pounds of acid phosphate, 20 pounds
nitrate OF soda and pound of muri-
ate or sulphate of potash The mix
ture would analize about 6-4-6. On
hammock lands the nitrogen may be
advantageously reduced one-half.
The total quantities mentioned are
the supply recommended for year,
and should be divided into two or
more applications.
HAY FARM.
A decade ago anyone who even
mentioned the possibility of hay
farm, or even the possibility of hay
ever becoming profitable crop in
Florida, would have been considered
Il fit subject for the lunatic asylum.
A few daNS npn l ncInnlI,, ,,iritn.l u