266 ON THK CONSERVATION OF 



unusually liberal application to the soil of rich well-turned police 

 manure for a turnip crop, the beech trees suddenly appeared to have 

 taken a new start, — a fresh lease of life as it were, — and their 

 unusually strong growths of young wood quite apparent, while 

 the colour of their foliage lost that sickly hue which had for years 

 distinguished them. It seems, therefore, reasonable to suppose 

 that the suddenly increased sap-action in these trees was due to the 

 chemical agency of the ingredients of the police manure in the soil ; 

 and it is perhaps worthy of further experiments, whether the stated 

 application of this manure, in well-regulated quantities, according to 

 the individual requirements of special cases, might not be adopted 

 alone, as in the case of the beech trees referred to, as an active stimu- 

 lant to promote stagnant tree life, and also as a revivifying agency to 

 restore to comparative vigour trees whose waning appearance may 

 have for years suggested gradual decline and approaching death. 



To younger specimens, and chiefly to some of the more recently- 

 introduced coniferse and evergreens, the application of liquid stable 

 or byre manure has long been known, and its use has been in many 

 instances of much benefit. It requires, of course, to be presented 

 in a highly-diluted form, and either in the autumn or winter months 

 after rain, and while the ground is well saturated with moisture. It 

 is of considerable benefit to the progress of Araucaria imbricata, 

 and to many of the Cupressus and Juniperus families. But it 

 requires carefu luse in the case of those pines (Abies or Plceas), which 

 are of themselves prone to throw out early buds in spring; for any 

 undue stimulant of growth during the cold frosty winds of March 

 or April must be attended with corresponding failure and disappoint- 

 ment. In using liquid manure, therefore, in such cases, it is better 

 to apply it, well diluted, in May than at an earlier or later period of 

 the year. To stimulate ranch species, either into too early vigorous 

 growth in spring, or to prolong their active vitality into late autumn, 

 and thereby retard the proper ripening of their young wood, is 

 alike a mistake, and necessary to be guarded against. 



When, in any particular instance, it is deemed proper to 

 administer diluted liquid manure to cure stagnant energy in tree-life, 

 it must be applied very slowly and gradually. For the principal 

 object in the application of any manure is to supply as much soluble 

 matter as possible to the roots for their absorption into the system 

 of the plant or tree, and if it be administered slowly and gradually, 

 it must necessarily be the more thoroughly assimilated in the gradual 

 formation of sap and the various tissues. 



