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SPECIAL MANURES FOR FRUIT TREES. 



solute failure of such fine old pears as the 

 Doyenn^ 1 — for we grant it is an absolute 

 failure, in many of the long settled parts of 

 the country, and more especially in high 

 sandy soils. What is the secret of the 

 great productiveness, great beauty, and 

 high flavor of this pear in some districts of 

 the country — as in western New-York ? 



Our answer, a few years ago, to the first 

 question, was defective soil and climate. 

 Our views are now, with more observation, 

 modified ; and we think the difficulty lies 

 almost wholly in the soil. In all those pla- 

 ces where the Doyenne and other old pears 

 once succeeded, they will succeed again, if 

 the necessary elements, which have been 

 exhausted, are again restored to the soil. 

 These elements are chiefly lime and potash ; 

 (perhaps a little iron — say in the form of 

 blacksmith's cinders.) Theory — the analy- 



sis of the ashes of the tree proves this ; 

 experience, by direct experiment, (see ar- 

 ticles on " Renovating Outcasts," in pre- 

 vious pages,) has also demonstrated its 

 truth. 



Western and central New- York — what is 

 known especially as the great Avheat grow- 

 ing district — are remarkable for their lime- 

 stone soils. It is there, the apple and the 

 pear thrive so admirably ; it is there that 

 the " old and degenerate varieties" have all 

 the bloom, freshness and lusciousness of 

 their pristine days. 



Will, therefore, our friends, more familiar 

 with old, light and long cultivated soils, in- 

 stead of heaping the sins of old age on the 

 devoted heads of the " outcasts," give them 

 plentiful dressings of lime and ashes, and 

 bring them back to the paths of fruitful ness 

 and honor ? Ed. 



SPECIAL MANURES FOR FRUIT TREES. 



We find an interest in special manures 

 for fruit trees, springing up in all parts of 

 the country. The following extract from a 

 letter received lately, is only one from a- 

 mong many of similar character, which have 

 come to us, all asking for more detailed 

 instruction: 



Washington City, Jan. 22d, 1S4S. 



Dear Sir : — The information contained 

 in the leading article of your Horticultu- 

 rist for this month, (January) is worth ten 

 years subscription to that work, to any per- 

 son that has an apple orchard. Since read- 

 ing it, I have, for my own satisfaction, made 

 inquiries with regard to apple trees, of sun- 

 dry gentlemen residing in the western coun- 

 try, all of whom agree in remarking that 

 apples are invariably the best and most abun- 

 dant in limestone portions of that country. 

 Can you not, sir, in your next number, (or 



at farthest, in the March number, give to 

 new beginners, like myself, some inkling 

 as to the quantity of the requisite materials 

 to be applied to apple and pear trees, and to 

 grape vines. 



Two and a half years ago I purchased 

 some land, one and a quarter miles from, 

 and in full view of the capitol of the United 

 States. There was upon it, when I pur- 

 chased, a small orchard of peach and apple 

 trees. The soil is, I think, sufficiently rich. 

 The peach trees, now ten years old, are 

 thrifty, and bear large quantities of fair and 

 fine flavored fruit. The apple trees bear 

 scarcely at all, and the fruit they produce 

 is small and worthless. The trees grow 

 very well. 



Very respectfully and truly yours, 



Dan. Gold. 



A. J. Downing, Esq. 



