10 Ai'KiL, 191S.] Apple Culture 111 Victoria. 213 



diagonal drains this method is not advocated for general adoption. 

 Further, the movement of water in drains placed diagonally across the 

 ])lane of a slope is not as rapid as that flowing with the fall. Where 

 depressions running longitudinally occur in the plane of the area to be 

 drained, however, drains may be placed in these with advantage, and con- 

 nected Avith head drains as shown in the illustration. 



Plate 163 gives cross-section of tAvo drains, and shows the lowering 

 of the water in the soil due to the working of the drains, and soil aeration. 

 The arrows from (A), (B), and (C) represent, for the purpose of illus- 

 tration, Avhat may be termed sub-surface watersheds, or the points to 

 which the surplus water has receded from the surface until the water- 

 table (D) is formed on a level with the bottom of the drains. The air 

 enters at the surface, as shown by the arroAvs (d) and (e), and fills up 

 the soil inter-spaces as the water recedes. The soil around the drains is 

 also aerated by air drawn up the pipes. 



(To be Continued.) 



In a recent article in Country Life it is maintained that the inter- 

 mittent bearing of fruit trees can be avoided by a proper system of 

 manuring. The Avriter, H. Vendelmans, says : — " In spite of a A^ery 

 common belief, it is' certain that the bearing capacity of fruit trees is 

 not limited to every other year. Ninety-nine orchardists out of eAJ'ery 

 hundred in England assert that a good crop is folloAved by a thin crop, 

 and rice versa, but the regularity with which excellent returns are 

 obtained annually from espalier trees and trees under glass, which receiA'e 

 different treatment from that meted out to orchard trees, ought to suggest 

 some scepticism about the old tradition. In the case mentioned, it is 

 possible to rely on good crops every year. Among the reasons which 

 explain this more regular bearing, manure takes a first place. Without 

 it, the abundant crop of one year makes so great a demand upon food that 

 the reserves of the trees are exhausted, and are not strong enough to 

 feed a new crop for the next year. Hence a poor return follows a good 

 return. In the year following the bumper crop the trees often carry 

 no fruit at all, but they accumulate new reserves, and are then ready 

 to feed a large crop the next year. When the exhaustion of the trees 

 is pre\'ented by appropriate manuring, bearing takes place much more 

 regularly. 



In manuring fruit trees, it is necessary to bear in mind that the 

 blossom buds are formed the year before they come out — that is to say, 

 during the period of bearing, or shortly afterwards. Consequently, 

 they are forming at a time when the trees are being exhausted, or have 

 been exhausted. Therefore, a liberal sujjph^ of easily assimilable manure, 

 must be placed at their disposal during this period. Liquid manure, 

 Avood ashes, basic slag, and lime should be used, taking into account that 

 a superabundant supply of nitrogen might lead to a production of wood 

 instead of flower buds, and that phosphates assist largely in developing 

 the flavour of the fruit. 



