PLANTING AND MANURING 49 



if the ground or beds where the trees are planted is not 

 liberally manured every year. But if manure is liberally 

 applied, the necessity for top dressing the roots will 

 not be so great ; for the yew extends its roots for a 

 long distance and therefore absorbs a great deal of 

 whatever kind of manure is applied to the ground. 

 Although chemical manures may be used for the sake 

 of convenience, or lack of farmyard manure, they are 

 not strongly recommended. Of course if farmyard 

 manure cannot be obtained, then chemical manure of 

 some sort will have to be resorted to, but this will 

 not have the same desired effect in imparting vigour 

 to the trees. The principal objection to farmyard 

 manure arises on account of its unsightliness in the 

 garden ; but that can be remedied to a great extent 

 by removing a few inches of soil from the roots and 

 applying a layer of the manure, and afterwards replacing 

 the soil. Liquid manure of any kind will be of the 

 greatest benefit to old trees, and there is no doubt that 

 chemical manure if applied to the roots at all, should 

 be given in liquid form during spring or summer, when 

 the weather is dry. It will greatly assist the trees in 

 making good growth. 



The clipped yew is of such a close nature that it 

 takes very heavy rains to penetrate the roots. 



