16 FRUIT GROWING FOR AMATEURS 



shed to have it in a good condition, and to prevent its becoming 

 saturated by rain. 



When all is in readiness fill up the spaces round the trees, 

 and tread the soil firmly as the work proceeds. Take care to 

 spread out the roots evenly, and any that are inclined to descend 

 into the subsoil should be raised. When the roots once take 

 hold of the new soil a great change in the growth of the trees 

 will be perceptible, and old specimens that have ceased to 

 produce good crops will soon bear regularly again. 



This kind of treatment may be carried out in a modified 

 degree even with trees that fruit regularly. If a layer of 3 inches 

 of soil is removed, and a topdressing applied, the trees or bushes 

 will benefit proportionately, and if the work is done early, the 

 manurial properties of the compost will be washed down to 

 the roots before the spring. 



Improving Orchard Trees. There is not much doubt that 

 these are more neglected than trees growing in gardens. One 

 of the most important matters is to keep the soil free from 

 grass immediately over the roots, for it is found that grass 

 checks the growth and vigour of the trees very considerably. 

 If the trees do not thrive, the turf should be removed for a 

 distance of 3 feet round the stem so that a rich topdressing can 

 be applied. This space around the tree should be kept regularly 

 hoed and clean throughout the year to prevent grass or weeds 

 from growing. 



It often happens that the trees arc badly infested with 

 lichen and moss, which is objectionable, and serves to harbour 

 a variety of harmful insect pests. When nothing has been 

 done to destroy these parasitic growths for a number of years, 

 the trees should be well sprayed with caustic alkali winter wash, 

 for which the formula is given in another chapter. Choose a 

 calm day for the operation*;} so that the spray will not blow 

 about, and take care to reaoh- every part of the branches. This 

 preparation, if properly .applied, will destroy all obnoxious 

 growths on the trees, and they will present a far more healthy 

 appearance in spring, while the wash will destroy the eggs 

 of insects that it touches. 



It frequently happens that fruit trees reach a non-productive 

 state owing to injudicious pruning. In somfe cases they have 

 been cut back hard year after year, and the chief results have 

 been the production of a quantity of vigorous growths but very 



