Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-11-13
cBy w. MILTON KELLY

tBy w. MILTON kELL1D
The problem of securing the fertil-
fly already in the soil is a matter
which we should carefully consider
beforewe apply commercial plant foods
and manures to our orchard soils.
On soils which contain reasonable
amount of available plant food and
which have been brought to a good
physical condition, the need of apply
ing manures and commercial fertil
izers will be reduced to a minimum
until the trees have attained a size
and age when their roots occupy
practically all of the soil.
How to prepare the soil so that
the roots may go deep into the sub
coil after mineral plant food, and so
that the surface roots may reach out
into the surface soil until they inter
lock with the roots Of adjoining trees
is the question for US to consider.
First of all, the soil must be well
drained and prepared sufficiently deep
SO that the roots may reach deep
into the subsoil Second. the surface
soil must be cultivated frequently
and a rotation of cover crops and
catch crops employed so that suf-
ficient amount OF plant food will be
made available to promote RAPID
and healthy growth rather an fore
ing the growth of the trees by the
use of manures and fertilizers rich in
nitrogen.
In some instances the soil may be
deficient in plant food and the intel
ligent use of mineral plant foods will
prove very beneficial to the young
trees
II is when the orchards begin to
bear large crops OF fruit that the de-
mands for plant food must be met II
profitable crops of fruit are secured.
At this time the roots of the trees
have taken possession of practically
all of the soil and have utilized the
larger part of the available plant food.
so that the addition Of some form Of
manure or fertilizer is essential.
The function OF the soil in fur
nishing the tree with plant food is an
exceedingly complex one, and there
are certain well defined laws that
must be kept in mind for the i'm
provement and maintenance OF the
fertility Of the soil that is occupied
by the trees. Some fruit growers ad-
Socate sod mulch. others depend upon
clean cultivation and the liberal use
of manures and fertilizers. others grow
cover crops and use mineral fertiliz-
ers as a means OF maintaining the
fertility of their orchard soils
The fact that no two soils require
the same line of treatment has
caused a confusion of ideas In the
management Of orchard soils. After
studying the matter in its various
phases, | have arrived at the conclu-
sion that the best line OF management
consists Of a system Of clean cultiva-
ton. the use of cover and grass crops
and the use of an incomplete fertil-
izer; the whole line Of management
to be governed by the growth OF the
trees and the year they are due to
bear heavy crop Of fruit
In adopting any system of soil
management for the orchard, II Is
imperative that we select the one
which possesses as many Of the good
points and eliminates in a large de-
gree all of the undesirable ones and
exhausts the least fertility from the
soil and which will need the least
possible amount of purchased fertiliz-
ers. and at the same time maintain
the trees ard fruit in thrifty and
healthy condition.
When we consider any method for
ms intaining the fertility of orchard
coils. there are three classes of rela-
lions that must be given considera-
ton. both separately and also in their
relations to each other-the physical.
the chemical and the biological condi-
ton OF the soil. These three relations
are so closely connected and so much
dependent upon each other that II Is
= dificult matter for US to decide
vhere one begins and the other leaves
&, so ! will consider them together
n show how It is possible to adopt
O system where all three may be
maintained and improved by the use
OF q limited amount OF mineral fertil-
izers and the use OF q well planned
system of legume crops for maintain
ing the supply Of humus and nitrogen.
and the use of fertilizers to encourage