?6 THE FRUIT GROWERS GUIDE. 



are first pampered, then neglected. In reference to applying manure, a plain line of 

 guidance is this: If trees make short-jointed, healthy young growths, 18 inches in 

 length or more, the soil is, generally speaking, rich enough ; if they make less than 

 a foot of growth, a moderate dressing of manure is desirable ; if less than 6 inches a 

 liberal application is demanded. If chemical manures are used, a moderate dressing 

 of those advised means 1J oz. per square yard of surface, or 4J cwts. per acre, 

 a liberal one 2| ozs. per square yard, or 7 cwts. per acre ; and it must always be remem- 

 bered that the best feeding roots of trees that have been left to forage for themselves are 

 not close to the stems, but at a distance from them equal to the length of the branches. 

 The roots will not travel so far if they find what they need nearer home, and the 

 first need is moisture in summer; hence the advantage of surface dressings of manure. 

 This is termed "mulching," and will be further referred to, as will special manures 

 for different fruits. 



Liquid Manure. This is often of great value. Directly the blossoms are set and the 

 fruit commences swelling, a copious supply should be given to trees in a productive 

 condition, repeating the applications once or twice a week, according to circumstances, 

 till the fruit commences ripening. This applies more particularly to garden trees, and 

 the practice is absolutely essential to the production of fine fruit. Manures often lose 

 half their value through being applied too late. 



Liquid manures best suited to fruit trees are the drainings of stables, cow byres, &c., 

 collected in tanks, also house sewage, and soapsuds. In using the latter care must be 

 taken that they do not contain objectionable ingredients, such as bleaching powder, and 

 an excess of acids and chlorides employed as disinfectants. Liquids of this character 

 are very variable in strength. They must not be applied too strong. If little or no 

 water enter the tanks with stable drainings and house sewage, the liquid must be 

 diluted with water, often as much as five-sixths being required to render it safe for 

 application to fruit trees. Potash is readily afforded by dissolving saltpetre ; from \ oz. 

 to \ oz. to a gallon of water is a sufficient strength at which to apply it. Guano at the 

 rate of 1 Ib. to 20 gallons of water is useful, but ammoniacal and soda salts should not 

 be given unless it is desired to encourage growth in weakly trees. Nitrate of soda and 

 sulphate of ammonia may be dissolved in the same quantity of water as nitrate of potash 

 (saltpetre). They must not be applied too frequently, once or twice after the fruit is 

 set usually sufficing, and they are seldom necessary when superphosphate and potash 

 dressings are given. Liquid manure is sometimes useful in late summer and early 



