lo March, 1910.] Orchard and Garden Notes. 159 



According to the nature of the plant sown for green manures, so should 

 the quantity of seed used be small or large. Thus, a greater quantity of 

 field peas would be required than that of beans or lupins. One hundred- 

 weight of superphosphate and bonedust should be sown with the crop ; and 

 the seeding should be a liberal one, at least one bushel per acre of field 

 peas (if that be the legume selected) being used. 



As soon as the crop has reached maturity, and this is judged by the 

 fact that the whole of the crop has reached its full flowering stage, the 

 crop should be rolled so as to render the ploughing more easy of accom- 

 plishment ; then it may be ploughed in, using a circular coulter in front 

 of the ploughshare to cut up the crop, and thus make it more readily to 

 become covered by the soil. 



One danger to be guarded against is the continuance of dry weather, 

 after the crop has been pldughed in. If such a contingency should arise, 

 the land, after ploughing, should be well harrowed and then rolled, so as 

 to retain any moisture that ma\ be in the soil ; frequent cultivations will 

 also be necessary. 



The advantages of green manuring are many. Humus and nitrogen 

 are added to the soil, the former amending the physical texture, and the 

 latter adding to its manurial value. Thus, the fertility of the soil is not 

 only restored, but it is largely increased. The succulent plants being 

 turned into the soil, a large amount of plant moisture is therefore added, 

 and so the svstem is one of natural irrigation. The physical condition 

 of the soil being improved bv green manures, the soil is in a more fit 

 state for soil aeration ; the presence of a cover crop in winter prevents the 

 severe frosts from affecting anv tree roots that may ibe near the surface ; 

 the presence of a growing crop prevents largelv anv surface washing that 

 may occur on hill lands, through excessive rainfall. These and many 

 other benefits accrue through the carrving into practice the svstem of green 

 manuring. And so naturallv anv one, or all, of these conditions occurring, 

 the trees must benefit, the orchard must be in a stronger condition, and the 

 resultant crops of fruit must be largelv increased. 



orchafyD and garden notes. 



E. E. Pescott. Principal , School of Horticulture , Burnley. 



The Orcliard. 



Fruit Notes. 



The past month has been a very unfavourable one tO' the proper develop- 

 ment of fruit. The alternating cold and heat changes have set up unde- 

 sirable conditions. Large numbers of apples have been scorched by the 

 hot sun to such a degree as to^ render them absolutely useless. Reports 

 have come to hand from all districts that bitter pit is more than usually 

 prevalent this season. This seems to add weight to the suggestion that 

 this " disease " is the result of an uneven and irregular flow of sap. 



A crop of plums on one tree at the Burnley Gardens has this season 

 shown all the signs of bitter pit, and the fruit is now under investigation. 

 If it should prove to be this trouble, another species of fruit is added to 

 the list of fruits attacked by this mysterious disease, as no record has 

 previously been noted, of plums being so affected. 



Reports have been received that the much heralded apple King David 

 iias fruited in various places this season. At Diamond Creek, Inspector 



