BACON AND EGGS 335 



it to the tenderness of nature, with only occa- 

 sional attention, is to make the heart sick, for it 

 is certain to prove a case of hope deferred. In 

 the fulness of time the tree and "happy-go- 

 lucky " nature will prove themselves equal to the 

 development of fruit; but they will be slow in 

 doing it. It is quite as well for the tree, and 

 greatly to the advantage of the horticulturist, to 

 cut two or three years out of this unprofitable 

 time. All that is necessary to accomplish this 

 is : to keep the ground loose for a space around 

 the tree somewhat larger than the spread of its 

 branches ; to apply fertilizers rich in nitrogen ; to 

 keep the whole of the cultivated space mulched 

 with good barn-yard manure, increasing the thick- 

 ness of the mulch with coarse stuff in the fall, so 

 as to lengthen the season of root activity ; and to 

 draw the mulch aside about St. Patrick's Day, 

 that the sun's rays may warm the earth as early 

 as possible. Moderate pruning, nipping back of 

 exuberant branches, and two sprayings of the 

 foliage with Bordeaux mixture, to keep fungus 

 enemies in check, comprise all the care required 

 by the growing tree. This treatment will con- 

 dense the ordinary growth of five years into 

 three, and the tree will be all the better for the 

 forcing. 



As soon as fruit spurs and buds begin to show 

 themselves, the treatment should be modified, 

 but not remitted. Less nitrogen and more 

 phosphoric acid and potash are to be used, and 



