SPECIAL MANURES FOR FRUIT TREES, 



427 



For old apple orchards, upon soil deficient I autumn, at the rate of half a peck to a 

 in lime, we would recommend a top-dress- tree.* 



ingof lime — for the first time — of 200 bush- 

 els to the acre. This will, usually, if the 

 land is in good condition, bring the trees 

 into good bearing condition again. In some 

 soils, the effects will be immediate, and in 

 others it will require one or two seasons for 

 the lime to produce its effect.* 



For middle sized bearing trees, a peck of 

 air-slaked lime to each tree, is sufficient. It 

 is, perhaps, best applied in the autumn, but 

 it will answer very well in the spring. 

 Scatter it evenly over the surface of the 

 ground, as far as the roots extend. It may 

 be ploughed or hoed under slightly, or left 

 upon the surface, as it will find its way 

 downwards in the soil. 



To keep an apple orchard in the fruit- 

 bearbig condition, in a soil not calcareous, 

 and not naturally congenial to the tree, it 

 should be dressed with lime, and with ashes, 

 every alternate autumn, and manured every 

 other spring. The same quantity of spent 

 ashes as of lime, may be used for each 

 tree. 



For the pear tree, we prefer the follow- 

 ing compost. Take a wagon load of peat, 

 or black, swamp earth — dissolve 20 lbs. of 

 potash in water, and water the peat tho- 

 roughly with the liquid. Let it lie a couple 

 of days, and it is fit for use. Or, for the 

 same quantity of peat, use one-third of a 

 load of leached wood ashes, (or ten bushels 

 of fresh ashes,) mixing the whole, and let- 

 ting it lie a fortnight before using it. Give 

 each middle sized bearing pear ixee, ^bushel 

 of this compost annually; a newly planted 

 young tree, half a peck, and others in this 

 proportion. If this compost is applied in the 

 spring, the trees may also have a top-dress- 

 ing of bone dust, if easily obtained, in the 



• Oyster-shell lime is ihe very best — some others contain 

 too much magnesia — but, perhaps, only a few. 



The same compost, and the same quanti- 

 ties, will answer admirably for the grape 

 vine. But as the grape is a strong-feeder, 

 and likes more lime than the pear, we 

 would give it, besides an autumnal coat of 

 lime, at the rate of from 50 to 100 bushels 

 to the acre, applied along with any manure 

 or compost most easily obtained. 



For the plum tree, in light soils, (there 

 is little or no difficulty in growing it in clay 

 soils,) we would recommend a compost, 

 made as follows : To two wagon loads of 

 strong loam, or yellow clay, add a bushel 

 of cheap salt and four bushels of lime. 

 Mix the whole thoroughly ; suffering it to 

 lie at least a fortnight. Apply this as a top 

 layer or top dressing to the soil directly un- 

 der plum trees, (spreading it over the sur- 

 face as far as the branches extend,) at the 

 rate of two bushels to a middle sized bearing 

 tree, or half a peck to a young, newly 

 planted tree. 



As a general compost for fruit trees, we 

 repeat, that nothing is equal to that formed 

 of ashes and -peat ; [for directions, see page 

 884.] These materials are easily obtained 

 in all parts of the country, and they contain 

 the elements most essential in the organ- 

 ic and inorganic structure of fruit trees. 

 Where peat is not at hand, use wood ashes 

 alone, at the rate of half a bushel of leach- 

 ed ashes to each middle sized bearing fruit 

 tree. But as ashes furnish only the mine- 

 ral or inorganic elements of food, the usual 

 supply of ordinary manure must not be 

 withheld, unless the soil is already suffi- 

 ciently rich. 



• All fruit trees are much benefitted by phosphate of lime 

 (i. e bone dust;) but the pear especially. Where bone dust 

 cannot be had, bones ihemsclves may be dug in about the 

 roots, and allowed lo decompose gradually. Four fifths of al! 

 the bones from the kitchen are thrown away, in the country. 

 If these were saved, and put at the bottom of the holes, when 

 planting pear trees, they would furnish a most enduring gup- 

 ply of phosphate to llie roots. 



