The Canadian Horticulturist. 9 



in culture without manure on strong soils are quite remunerative. A celebrated 

 example is the experiment of Lawes and Gilbert, at Rothanisted in which wheat 

 has been grown without manure with good returns during thirty-two consecutive 

 years. In similar experiments with barley carried on for twenty consecutive 

 years (1852-1871), on the same soil, the yjeld was not sensibly reduced- 

 Recently Pagnoul, at the Agronomic Station of Arras, has made a similar obser- 

 vation with sugar beets, which he has cultivated on strong soil for ten consecu- 

 tive years without manure. 



In light soils, on the other hand, manure is able to produce its full effect. 

 The highest efficiency of this fertilizer depends upon a number of factors, fertility 

 of the soil, kind of plants cultivated, etc. The results obtained on different 

 soils will therefore vary widely. Deherain, in field experiments at Grignon, on 

 moderately light soil, obtained good yields of oats and potatoes during five con- 

 secutive years without manure. A. Girard, on the contrary, considerably 

 increased the yield of a special variety of potatoes (Richter Imperator) by heavy 

 manuring. For certain plants, such as corn grown for fodder, and sugar beets, 

 all agriculturists agree as to the good effect produced by manure. These plants, 

 in fact, readily avail themselves of the organic matter with which manure is 

 charged. 



It has been pointed out above that manure acts in the soil through the 

 mineral and organic materials which it supplies, and through the physical 

 changes which it brings about in the soil. The latter allow the nitrifying fer- 

 ments to exercise their function under favorable circumstances, and to gradually 

 transform the nitrogenous matter of the soil and of the fertilizers into nitrites- 

 Nitrates are especially needed about plants, and are very easily assimilated. 

 Aside from the solubility of the black substance, of which we have already 

 spoken, this nitrification is the principal cause of the efficiency of manure ; 

 and since this phenomenon goes on in a much more complete and rapid manner 

 in light soils than in strong, it follows that the latter will profit less by applica- 

 tions of manure. — A. Hebert, Expert Station, Grignon, France. 



Pruning in Winter. — Hardy varieties of the apple may be moderately 

 pruned in winter, but there should be very few large v\ounds. These wounds 

 should be covered with a composition that will entirely exclude rain, which may 

 be applied after the outside of the wounds have become entirely dry, and it is 

 especially important that the weather be excluded before the advent of another 

 summer After trying several substance.s, we find white-lead paint as good as 

 any and more readily procured in almost any painter's shop, or in small cans at 

 hardware stores. Applying grafting wax, formerly recommended, is more diffi- 

 cult. Pine tar, with brick dust intermixed, is also good. Caution is needed 

 and it is better to prune too little than too much. 



