686 RESUSCITATIOX OF CHOICE TREES. [Mar. 



dual processes of depletion tell at length on the strongest trees and 

 the richest soils. If it be true, and it is, that all work and no play 

 makes Jack a dull boy, it is yet more true that all out and nothing 

 returned will make the richest soil poor. And yet in practice how 

 few act upon this mere truism ? Depletion and robbery of the 

 replenishment provided by nature goes on year after year until 

 valuable trees are exhausted and stunted past recovery, and not a 

 few cultivators affect to marvel at these failures. The marvel would 

 be infinitely greater were the trees not to suffer and fail. Happily 

 the remedy for such evils are as simple and easy as their cause is 

 obvious. Either leave the natural resuscitators to do their legitimate 

 work, or provide substitutes of equal or greater value. As the first 

 course may create what fastidious fashion has mostly designated 

 eyesores, the second plan of less unsightly substitutes must be 

 adopted. 



After trying a good many such, I have never found any to equal, 

 on the whole, a top-dressing of maiden loam, at once light and rich. 

 Loams from old pastures laid up to mellow a season one or two 

 years before use, are best for the top-dressing of trees. The fibre 

 gets partially decomposed during the period of storage, and the loam 

 is consequently in better condition for feeding the roots. 



Details as to time and depth may be very varied, without greatly 

 lessening the value of the effects. Often and little is, however, most 

 effective, especially in the case of trees that have their roots turfed 

 over. The mere removal of the turf in such cases and its replace- 

 ment not seldom acts as a stimulant to the roots. But the addition 

 of from half-an-inch to three inches of fresh sweet loam adds greatly 

 to the stimulatino- effect of the surface disturbance. 



This brings us to another point, which is to note that to derive 

 the maximum of benefit from these top-dressings no turf should 

 be laid over them at all ; comparatively loose surface enables the 

 roots to get the full benefit of the top-dressing. And if this can be 

 maintained from the first, the trees will thrive better than when 

 their roots are turfed over. 



As to the area of the dressings, they should extend from the bole 

 to a foot or yard beyond the circumference of the under branches. 

 The character of the trees and of their roots should be taken into 

 consideration. For example, oaks do not run so wide as beeches, 

 nor upright cypresses as Lebanon cedars. 



Only experience can fully inform the practical man on these 

 matters, and his object will ever be to apply the top-dressing where 

 the roots are most likely to find it. Amateur tree-growers, how- 

 ever, may rest assured that the roots will soon make tracks for the 

 new food, for the instincts of roots towards a new or full larder are 



