606 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION G. 
American scarifier and disc harrow; but on no account 
should this operation take place when the soil is wet. 
Irrigation should begin in December, and great care 
taken not to let the water lie. The great secret in irriga- 
ting is to keep the fruit growing, as then it will fill out 
and thoroughly mature. If the fruit is allowed to stop 
growing, and then watered, it will not keep, hence the 
impression that watered fruit will not keep. In parts of 
America winter irrigation is practised. It has been tried 
in Tasmania, but the results are doubtful. 
MANURING. 
In manuring for a given object, it is necessary to know 
the composition of the matured product for a guide as to 
what should be applied. The following represents the 
mineral composition of the apple :— 
Potashi ic gon Scxck< oo ees pees OO sper cease 
Sodan.) ..es dich a gee eee Re Oe DER Geman 
Magnesia... ii. 4..c5-< eee OOM On, wemiee 
Winnie. ree, eee etc eee eed 4-08 per cent. 
ironies eer ea 1-40 per cent. 
Phosphoric ‘Ned. 3 by dip (bo per coum 
Sulplraric eid 5... bmn aee « 6-09 per cent. 
Silvciee Acid ae ee eae 4-32 per cent. 
An analysis of the soil will reveal the presence of all or 
any of the above being in abundance or deficient, but too 
much cannot be taken for granted if the former condition 
prevails, as it is more a question of availability rather than 
actual quantity. Lime is one of the best materials that 
can be used, although not strictly a manure in its action. 
It sets free the chemical constituents of the soil, and pro- 
motes a crumbly structure, making the land easy to work. 
It should be lightly worked into the soil in the autumn. 
Farmyard manure, when obtainable, will aid in the main- 
tenance of the humus in the soil, as well as add to fertility. 
Tbe ploughing-in of leguminous crops is another method 
of keeping -up the supply of humus, as well as nitrogen. 
The application or such fertilisers as phosphates and 
nitrates will, in great measure, depend for success upon 
the discrimination of the grower in regard to the condition 
of the soil and the trees. Potash is, of all manures, one 
of the most important for fruit growing. Its high per- 
centage in the composition of the apple, as well as its 
tendency to render the foliage immune from insect depre- 
dations, have made this mineral very popular amongst 
