114 The Canadian Horticulturist. 



Salt as Top Dressing". 



709. Sir, — Please inform me what benefit is salt sowed upon the land in the spring, 

 and which soil is most benefited by it, gray sand, black sand, or clay. What quantity 

 should be used per acre, and what time in the spring should it ibe applied ? Would you 

 sow it on wheat and oats, and timothy and clover meadows ? Would it be better to mix it 

 with land plaster for the meadow ? 



Thomas E. Quick, Leamington, 



It has long been a puzzle as to the reason of the evident good effects 

 which often result from top dressing of salt along with wheat and other crops, 

 because it is not an element entering into the composition of the vegetable 

 structures of plants or their products. Besides, when applied too liberally it 

 destroys vegetable growth. It has been found, however, that salt acts indirectly, 

 affecting the decomposition of substances alraady present in the soil, and setting 

 free some things which are needed by the plants. Common salt, says Storer, 

 displaces lime first of all, then magnesia and potash. It must be applied spar- 

 ingly, when there are no young sprouts at hand to be injured. As to quantity, 

 from one to two hundred pounds per acre has been found to give the best results 

 with the wheat crop. We shall be pleased to hear the experience of any reader 

 with salt as a fertilizer. 



The Windsor Bean. 



710. Sir, — Could you give me some hints as to the growing of the "broad" or 

 " Windsor " bean, as we have not been successful with it ? 



Deofla, Hamilton. 



The English or Broad bean is hardy and may be sowed as early in spring 

 as the ground can be got in good condition. In England a common plan of 

 sowing is in double rows 9 inches apart, and a space of 30 inches between ; but 

 the common American plan is in drills 4 feet apart. The seed is sown 2 inches 

 deep and 4 inches apart. 



Unproductive Trees. 



711. Sir. — I have in my orchard some fine looking, healthy, F. B. Pears, Spy 

 apples, and large blue plums (don't know name), which have been planted 16 or 17 year* 

 and yet produce no fruit, though they blossom profusely every year. They have been 

 fairly well pruned, and mulched with chip dirt, manure, and occasionallylsome wood ashes 

 put about them. The pears appear to blight, a sort of rust fungus attacks the fruit while 

 young and causes them to crack open and fall off", the leaves are also affected in the same 

 May. The plums, as soon as they are nicely formed, fall off"; and the Spj's, though they 

 don t appear to blight, yet they do not bear fruit? Now, sir, if you could give me a cause 

 and a remedy for all this, I am sure I would be very glad indeed. 



B. F. QuANTZ, Stroud (near Barrie). 



Probably the fungi which cause rust and blight are at fault for the unfruit- 

 fulness of these apple, pear and plum trees. We would advise our correspondent 

 to give a faithful trial to the fungicides given in Prof. Craig's table, which we 

 publish in this number. 



