12 



sap occupies itself in trying to force itself into the more 

 tender of the two and the development of the selected ono 

 is retarded, the cellulartissuo becomes tough and premature- 

 ly contracted and offers obstacles to free and uninterrupted 

 nourishment. It would appear that heavy pruning parti- 

 cularly if frequently practised and followed by careless hand- 

 ling, gradually enfeebles the circulation of sap and has a de- 

 cided tendency to upset its equal disti'ibution ; such is 

 clearly proved by the appearance of "Gormandizers" on one 

 portion of the tree and sickly shoots on another. 



The premature contraction of the cellulartissue caused 

 by drought or check of any kind is plainly manifested in a 

 hastily grown plant where suckers are thrown out perhaps 

 half way up the stem, or even from the bottom before the 

 plant has even been topped. 



Manures of every description must of course be liberally 

 applied, but every mechanical operation calculated to favor 

 the process of assimilation must be carefully attended to . 

 The application of such manures as Lime, Potash, and Soda 

 appears highly desirable both for chemical and physical pur- 

 poses. They neutralize all the noxious and acid properties 

 in the soil and directly enter into the composition of the 

 crop and further exert a marvellous mechanical action on a 

 cold or clammy soil making it sweet and loose and assisting 

 Nature to transform organic substances and humus, into 

 good and wholesome food for the plant instead of remaining 

 in a condition calculated to injure it. Poonac mixed with 

 wood ash and bone dust, acts as a wonderful tonic application 

 to coffee, but would be unavailing if not followed up by a 

 really sustaining manure. Wherever from unavoidable cir- 

 cumstances or the visitation of any fungoid post any danger 

 is anticipated, capital should be freely expended first on en- 

 ergetic manual operations and then on the application of such 

 mineral manures as a scientific investigation of causes and 



