392 



Journal of AgricJiltiirc. 



[8 July, 1908. 



Lime in low form added to the soil has no mechanical effect, but when 

 quicklime is added at the rate of 30 cwt. to the acre it has mechanical 

 action by forming gases and causing movement and air passages. 



As nitrogenous manures supply food essential to wood growth, it fol- 

 lows that if, in the early life of the orchard, trees are making insufficient 

 progress this constitutent must be supplied them. The aged tree, also, 

 debilitated through bearing, is more responsive to- nitrogenous manures, 

 than to any other kind. The grower can tell when his trees demand this 

 particular food by their pale, sickly leaves, and weak wood-growth. Trees, 

 grown on soils rich in nitrogen have dark green foliage which they retain 

 late into the autumn. Any deficiency in this respect in the soil can be- 

 readilv amended by the application of farmyard or green-manuring. 



When we consider that an ordinary crop of fruit will take two or three 

 times as much phosphoric acid and potash out of the soil as an ordinary 

 crop of cereals, it is clear th;:t these constituents must predominate in 

 manuring a bearing orchard. 



Pruning. 



The pruner must ha\e in his mind at the out.set the form of the tree- 

 he wi.shes to e.stablish, and preference mu.st be given to the shape that is: 

 capable of carrying the greatest quantity of fruit. He must build up a 

 strong tree capable of su])porting whatever crop it mav bear. 



I AND 2. CLEOPATRA APPLE, JUST PLANTED, UNPRUNED AND PRUNED. 



If the frame of the tree is made too weak, and this is often the case,, 

 the first moderate crop it is called on to bear either distorts it, or breaks. 

 it down. If this hapj)ens the tree has to be rebuilt, and the grower loses- 

 time . and money. Should he, however, start with a strong, substantial 

 foundation, he can build up his tree to carry the heaviest crop without 



