Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1908-08-29
FERrlLIzINe pRY LAND.
The Moisture Content OF Soil Must Be
Considered.

The problem OF fertilizinT dry land
is not the same as fertHting moist
land or land ia the humid regions
where the soil contains a fair supply
of moisture az an seasons of the year
The writer Is informed by Nr. T. c.
Wallace OF California that en- the dry
soils OF California the roots OF the
grape vines are very deep in the soil.
and that where irrigation is or is not
pracuced. 20 IS found 20 De very DIFF
hcult 90 properly ferunze the vine
yards and orchards In fs a problem
on which many are working. but BE- Is
doubtful 81 amy have fully solved it,
how 70 get The fertilizer that is put
into the surface soil to decsmpose and
yield DID it's plant food for Che roots in
the moist layer of soil far below.
It might Doe suggested that the irri-
cation water would do the work. bus
the irrigation water is not al Che top
of the soil for a long enough period
to accomplish very much in this ZEE
gard. lt is not a question of dissolv-
ms what is soluble but seems go be a
question of establishing a moist me-
an which moist medium the soil or
ganisms can work. Tho problem of
teruhziug grape vines and fruit orr
chards is the greatest because these
do not permit of tho turning over of
the soil for the purpose OF working
fertility into it
The problem that exists in Caifor-
MIA AN the time exists here fn Che
Mississippi valley part OF the time We
have dry seasons in which the eff
fects az Tho fertilizers applied 60 our
vineyards and orchards ifs not greatly
felt. The moisture conditions ~ the
soil have very large influence on the
decay OF manure For this reason
many of tho purchasers % fertilizers
complain of not getting results from
The fertilizers. without ever taking in-
no account Che fact that the available
ity Of the plant food Orb the fertilizers
depends on The perfection OF tho wa
ter supply
Land hahitualiy dry Is exceedingly
difficult Co fertiuze. FOR tho reason that
the fertility remains in tho soil with
ont being submitted Co the agencies
that would change nc into materials
that the roots OF trees and vines can
use.
Ia The fertuzing of orchards and
Vineyards. the fertilizer should be. got
ten into me soil and should Dee applied
at times of the year whom che moisture
supply is likely t0 bo good but Us not
overahuudant
II banyard manure is 90 De placed
in The surface soil OF am orchard. it
should Doe gotten in in the FAN be-
fore the coming OF the fan rains II
possible. IL it Is go be applied 10 the
surface 60 should he put on en- the
winter. that The rains and SHOWS may
wash Che soluble portions into the
soil
II the fertilizer is a highly nitro
genous one. like dried blood IL should
be worked into the soil in the spring
as carly as possible. II 80 is applied
In the fan. a large part of the soluble
plant food viii disappear before spring
The part ~ this that Will De most lost
VIII be tho nitrogen. the very ingre-
dent for which the blood is applied
Yet II 10 is applied too late iu the
spring 90 get the benefit OF the spring
moisture. The nitrogen Is likely 20 De
largely dissipated into tho air.
Thus. In dry land feruUzing. the
moisture supply must be closely CON
sidered, and because Do IS not closely
considered is the reason that some
OF our fruit growers DO not get the
results from their orchards they have
expected.