36 MANURES. 



priate season for application. Cow manure is the 

 finest manure for dig-ging into all soils, especially if on 

 the light side; it is cool, and of a less fiery nature than 

 pig manure, and the soonest found in a suitable con- 

 dition for application. Sheep manure is best stored in 

 coarse sack bags for the rain-water tub to be served 

 out in liquid form, with soot as a mulch when trees are 

 showing bud. This should be collected into bags from 

 the sheepfold when the ground is dry or after frost. It 

 should be stood in a dry place and kept ready for use 

 at the end of May, when it should be left to soak in a 

 tub of water with a bag of soot. Fowl manure is 

 harder to procure, but in dry weather spade off the 

 surface of an old fowl-run and store in a dry shed. 

 This should be broken up and scattered over the sur- 

 face of the beds in June, Be sparing in its use, for it 

 Is very strong and rapid in its action. It is always 

 wisest to mix a little soil or leaf-mould with it, to en- 

 sure an equal distribution. I would strongly advise 

 that fowl manure be only used with well-established 

 trees that are making big growth ; scatter evenly over 

 the surface of the soil, and rake it in very lightly. 

 Pigeon manure is even stronger than fowl manure, and 

 should only be sown over the surface. I once nearly 

 Icilled a bed of fifty La France trees through too liberal 

 an application. It is, however, a fine fertiliser, espe- 

 cially for H.T.s, and if it can be secured there will be 

 no need to buy artificials. However, it must be kept 

 very dry, and not allowed to heat. Before applying it 

 to the soil mix it with leaf-mould, soil, or sand, and 

 scatter it evenly over the surface ; do not fork, but 

 rake, it in very lightly. It is very rapid in its action, 

 and a few days after a storm of rain its effect will be 

 seen in the growth of your trees. All Guano, which is 

 bird deposit, should be treated in like manner, although 

 more liberally, for no guano is as strong as pigeon 

 manure. It must be remembered that guano is much 

 older, and often it is collected after many years' ex- 

 posure to the elements. Some guano even has ceased 

 to be of great value as a fertiliser, although it will 

 ever retain many of its valuable plant properties. 



