The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-12-05

manure. After the trees begin to bear use either of the following formulas each year, as trees in bearing dra wfrom the soil annually for two crops, the one the yield of fruit and the other the tree growth of new wood and leaves.
 A careful study of the fruit wood and leaf growth of an acre of apple trees dhirty-fve trees) shows a usual demand of fertilizer as follows: Nitrogen, 67 pounds: potash, 95 pounds; phosphoric acid, 26 pounds
 From this we are able to gvie some idea of what fertilizers are needed for bearing orchards.
 Formula No. i. Use from GOO to 1000 pounds per acre of fertilizer containing: Nitrogen, 2 per cent; actual potash, 9 per cent available phosphoric acid, per cent. Formula No. 2. When a complete fertilizer is to be used l without manure, for an acre of bearing ] apple trees use from 100 to 200 pounds nitrate of soda; POO to 300 pounds muriate of potash; 800 to 700 pounds acid phos- phate.
 Formula No. 3. Use annually per acre a top dressing of | from 400 to 800 pounds of a fertilizer con- taining: Nitrogen, per cent; phosphoric acid 8 per cent; potash, F per cent. This can be obtained from either of the following mixtures:
 No. i.
 Fifty to 100 pounds nitrate of soda; 200 to 400 pounds dissolved bone 19J to 200 pounds murlate potash.
 No. 2.
 One hundred and ten pounds to 220 pounds cotton seed neal 1S0 pounds to S6 pounds acid phosphate; 100 pounds to 200 pounds sulphate of potash.
 No. 3.
 Eighty to 16O pounds dried blood; 80 10 600 pounds bone meal; 100 to 200 pounds sulphate of potash.
 Volumes have been written and could be written upon this subject of fertilizers, yet 1 have tried to outline the subject 80 that all who read may be able 10 sac- ceed.
 Remember that the main road to suc- cess in all fruit growing Is to start right and keep right, and if the orchards are fertilized each year it will be an easy matter to keep up the fertility of the soil. But when the trees have robbed the soil of all it's fertility and the orchard becomes all grown up in brush and briafs 1t will be best to rub out and start anew
 After the grower has been to all the expense of preparing his land. he can not afford to hazard the chances of se- curing fine orchard of bearing trees by making a bad selection of cheap, diseased trees This great mistake has often been made, and after the trees are oouEht and planted 1t cannot be recalled. The poorest economy the fruit buyer can use is that of buying cheap trees and cheap fertilizers. The better plan will be tfjs-- seek some good, reliable nursery man; tell him you want good, first class stock. free from disease: trees that are uniform in size, perfectly straight. and that the trees must be well rooted, the bark clean and bright. which is an indication of health. Tell him you are willing to pay fJr such trees, and the chances are that they can be secured at reasonable terms. Suen trees are worth more than twice the price usually paid for poor grades. Nearly All the leading nurserymen of the country carry first class stocks for first class cus- toners.
 Selecting and Handling Trees.
 After the trees have been selected and bought. next comes the handling of them in shipment and in receiving them. Ttls. when performed at the right time saves much loss and often vexation. If possible. the land should be ready for setting the trees when they arrive Wh.re this can not be done. the next best thing is to dig d trench, unite the bundle. separate the trees and put them in at once. II may be necessary to wet the roots before put ting them in.
 The tree roots want just as little ey- posture 10 the air and sunshine as possible from the time they leave the nursery until in the orchard. The wrter has known farmers to haul trees home for miles exposed to the hot sun and drying winds, and let them lie around for Il whole day. Then when trees with such treatment fail to grow. and die, the buyer would expect the nurseryman to replace the trees. This is unjust. but nevertheless it frequently happens. In fact. yonng fruit trees. in order 10 secure the Lest results. should be handled as carefully as babies. for they are just as ttn1er and need careful handling.
 Planting the Trees. Next after purchasing the receiving the trees. comes the planting. This. too should he done in a careful way In or der to obtain the best results. The suppo- siton is sf course that the soil hns had sl the necessary pfspsl alton before the trees have been received. Tn planting, one cannot afford 10 make a mistake. Should grower make a mistake in planting annual crops. such as grain. he would have a chance 10 correct this mistake the following year. | But this Is not with an orchard. An | apple orchard Is expected to remain for years. SO a mistake in planting cannot be easily corrected. This being true the