Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-03-16
Fertilizlng Orchards Complex.

Fertllizlng Orchards Complex.
Some authorities claim that trees need
little, IL any, fertilizer other than is al
ready in the soil; 12-year experiment
conducted in New York state seemed to
prove that, in that particular orchard,
no benefit was derived from sever
al methods of fertilizing. The soil, how
ever, was a heay loan, and reports from
other states show that light, sandy soils
show splendid results from application
of fertilizers.
As long as trees are growing we'll and
producing good crops of we'll colored
fruit no fertilizer is needed, and it seems
to be general condition in New York
state, at least, that on ordinary soil a
newly set orchard will not need fertiliza-
ton until bearing age is reached. This
last seems to be rather against the opin-
ion of the orchardists in Maine, and
helps to show the truth of the statement
that no definite rule can be followed in
fertilizing the orchard.
This matter calls for persons judg-
ment in his own particular case, and if
after practicing the other up-to-date
methods of pruning, spraying and
cultivating, with Care, the orchard
fails to give the desired returns, expert
ments should be conducted to determine
the effect of different fertilizers on the
trees. This should be done in plots and
careful records kept. By working in
this manner, using ones best judgment
and studying the results OF similar ex-
periments under the same conditions,
the orcbardist should be able to accom-
plish the desired results.
OBJECT OF DIFFERENT CHEMICALS
There are several things which must
be kept in mind when working with fer
tilizers in the ground. Nitrogen tends
to produce woody growth on the tree
and adds a deeper color to the foliage
when doing effective work. This ele-
ment exists in barn manure and a large
percent in hen manure. 1t may be pro-
cured in tankage and as a chemical in
nitrate Of soda; also on the roots OF our
leguminous plants are little nodules hil-
ed with bacteria which have the power
to take nitrogen from the air and store
it up so that when the root decays and
the bacteria are no longer supplied with
air the nitrogen becomes available TO the
plant. Nitrogen is the most expensive
of all the plant food elements and the
cheapest method of introducing it into
the soil is by means of the legumnOus
crops with their bacteria laden nodules.
Phosphoric acid is essential to the
proper ripening of wood and fruit and is
available to the orchardists in the barn
manures, as acid phosphate, in bone
meal and similar materials, and also to
small extent in some of the green crops
used for manures.
Potash is the third important fertiliz-
ing element and is necessary for the de-
velopmsnt of the fruit and is associated
with the development of the flavor. This
element of plant food exists in the barn
manures, as chemical in muriate and
sulphate of potash, in wood ashes and in
the potash crops such as rape and tur
uips, as well as in some Ofthe less fsmil-
lar forms.
Lime is sometimes mentioned In con-
nection with the plant food elements,
but simply acts in physical way to i'm
prove soil conditions, such as sour soil,
etc, and by its presence aids chemical
decomposition of the different msnures
and chemicals.
Excessive nitrogen prevents fruiting,
so il the trees appear to be growing too
much TO wood, the amount of nitrogen
should be decreased. The other ele
ments may be applied until no results
appear from their application. One
should watch carefully for the effects of
any fertilizer he may apply, aud If no re-
suits appear after seasons care it may
be we'll to abandon that particular ma
terial, or, if, after good results have
been obtained for few seasons, no more
are seen, it may be time to stop and give
a differently balanced ration.
II plant food appears TO be deficient,
baruyard manure may be applied at the
rate of eight TO ten tons per acre, a
chemical fertilizer being used in the al
ternating years. Barnyard manure is
deficient in phosphoric acid and potash,
so the chemicals used should be made
rich in those particular elements. In
applying barnysrd manure to young
trees the method Of applying simply for
the hoed crops is practical, or IL the or
chard is not TO be cropped, the manure
may be scattered around under the trees
over the area filled with the feeding
roots. In mature orchsrde the manure
should be spread over the entire area ex-
cept close to the trunks of the trees
Never pile manure against the trunks OF
the trees, as it is dangerous practice in
that it may mean injury to the tree it.
self from contact. IL is also wasteful
method in that the roots get the food
very slowly. In all cases the manure
sho uld be worked thoroughly into the
soil.-A. K. Gardner.