SPECIAL MANURES. 39 



loss of large limbs or other severe wounds; too great ex 

 posure of the trunks to the sun ; too rapid and succulent 

 growth from the stimulus of heat or exciting manures ; and 

 an impervious subsoil, which will allow water frequently to 

 stagnate about its roots, producing what is commonly called 

 by farmers &quot; a cold, sour soil.&quot; 



Some of my readers, who have not studied the subject, 

 may be glad to have me concisely indicate the most ap 

 proved means of avoiding or counteracting these dangers. 



Manures should be applied to orchards frequently and in 

 moderate quantities, rather than in heavy supplies at distant 

 intervals ; and, to avoid unhealthy stimulation, they should be 

 well decomposed. The best ordinary manure in the United 

 States has been found to be a mixture of dung with an equal 

 quantity of peat or black swamp-earth, chip-dirt, or rotten 

 wood or leaves ; and it is better that this compost should 

 be mixed some time (the longer the better) before it is 

 applied. 



But, in addition, I have shown from, the English experience 

 that the apple-tree requires a more than ordinary supply of 

 lime, (say a peck of air-slaked stone or shell lime to each 

 tree, every year.) In the same way the pear is known to 

 require especially potash, iron, and phosphorus. 



Iron is found in sufficient quantity in most clay soils ; 

 where needed it may be supplied by scattering bog-ore, 

 (foimd generally underlying swamps . in America,) or iron 

 filings, or the sweepings and scoriae from forges. One pound 

 of crude potash dissolved in water and poured over the com 

 post manure, or half-a-bushel of wood ashes, to a tree, will be 

 a good yearly allowance of potash ; and half-a-peck of bones 

 to a tree will supply the phosphorus. For the plum and the 

 quince, salt is found particularly useful, and ashes for the 

 peach. But let it not be forgotten that the apple cannot live 



