33 



(a) Planted too deep. 



(b) Planted properly. 



Table showing the number of trees required to plant an acre of land 

 at distances from 30 to 10 feet apart : 



THE USE OF MANURE. 



Soils cannot remain fertile unless they contain all the materials that 

 are necessary for the support of the plants. And not only is the 

 presence of these materials necessary, but they must be in soluble forms, 

 so that they can be absorbed by the roots of the plants. A soil may 

 contain lime, potash, phosphoric acid, and other mineral materials in 

 abundance, yet it will be wholly or partially barren if these substances 

 are in an insoluble condition. For this reason cultivators must not 

 depend too much upon soil analyses to show them what their land can 

 produce. These tests are all very well in their way, and no doubt they 

 will afford information that may be usefully applied, but it must be 

 remembered that the agricultural chemist merely ascertains the pro- 

 portion of minerals held by the soil, whether they are immediately 

 available for plant food or not. These minerals must be rendered soluble 

 by certain decomposing forces, to enable them to be absorbed by the 

 small rootlets of the plants. Water and air are the chief factors in 

 making the soil materials soluble, and, therefore, the land should be 

 placed under such conditions as will allow these elements free action. 

 This will in a large measure be effected by working the ground 

 thoroughly and providing for perfect drainage. 



Fruit trees and shrubs, like other plants, must be able to obtain the 



