404 



THE MYRTLE TRIBE OF PLANTS. 



dissolved bones,* and two bushels of leached 

 ashes, (or five pounds of potash, dissolved 

 in water.) This would be the compost for 

 •pear trees. 



To every cart load of the peat and ashes, 

 we would add half a bushel of lime, half a 

 bushel of ashes, and a peck of salt. This 

 would be the compost for the plum tree. 



To every cart load of the peat and ashes, 

 we would add a bushel of lime, one of ashes, 

 and half a bushel of gypsum or plaster. 

 This would be the compost for the grape-vine. 



To every cart load of the peat and ashes, 

 we Avould add two bushels of leached ashes. 

 This would be the compost for the peach and 

 cherry tree. 



We do not intend to give these as the 

 best formulas for composts for these different 

 fruit trees. The ingredients are by no 

 means so exactly proportioned as even the 

 present state of chemical knowledge would 

 enable us to make ; but they contain the 

 essential elements, in proportions which we 

 have tested ; and we have avoided making 



them in the least complex, because we 

 have always noticed that the majority of cul- 

 tivators are reluctant to adopt what is not 

 easily understood and carried into practice. 



The good effects of such composts as 

 these, instead of common manure, will be 

 very speedily seen in all fruit gardens and 

 orchards where they are used. Their use 

 will as certainly bring about thrifty grawth, 

 healthy foliage, and fair and abundant 

 crops, as careless and ignorant culture and 

 manuring will the reverse. 



We will only add,, in conclusian, that, 

 where an orchard or garden has been 

 neglected for same time^ a very heavy 

 dressing of such compost,, say a coat twa 

 inches thick, should be applied at first. 

 But where it is the practice of the cultivator 

 to use the compost every year, it is only 

 necessary to sprinkle enough over the sur- 

 face every spring (turning it xmder lightly 

 w^ith the spade or plough,) to cover the 

 surface half an inch thick as far as tJb.e roots 

 extend. 



ON THE MYRTLE TRIBE OF PLANTS.— [**] 

 BY DR. WM. W. YAUi, FL.USPIING-, L, I. 



In all the contributions to the pages of the 

 Horticulturist, I presume it has been, (and 

 is,) the design of its correspondents, to 

 combine in their communications, matter 

 both useful and interesting to the many 

 thousand readers of this popular periodical. 

 That such has been the case with myself 

 I know ; and trusting that the little already 

 done shall have answered wholly, or par- 

 tially, to fulfil the intent thus indicated, I 

 shall, as often as I can find or make the 



* Ground bones are only to be hac! in the cities; but every 

 cultivator in the country may collect sufficient bones in liis 

 neighborhood, and dissolve them by following the directions 

 on page 93 of this volume. 



opportunity, continue to offer somethdi^g for 

 the reader's consideration,, upon the various 

 subjects appertaining to- horticulture. In. 

 doing this, I purpose availing myself of 

 whatever materials I already possess, or 

 that may come into the line of appropria- 

 tion,, from every source obtainable in the 

 gardening literature of the day ; conse- 

 quently, my communicatians will be some- 

 times either wholly, or to same extent, ori- 

 ginal, or, ag-ain,, entirely selected. If,, in a 

 greater or less degree, it shall be necessary 

 and proper to modify a selected paper, by 

 additions or omissions, there will be added 



