82 



dust and nitrate, 3,384 Ib. more apples per acre were gathered. In. 

 a letter received by me in August, 1900, he qualifies this by stating; 

 that muriate alone will not do more than unlock the natural 

 fertility of the soil, and add to the general health of the trees, 

 and that 200 to 250 Ib. per acre is enough, if used year after year 

 with bonedust and nitrogen obtained from clover or horse manure. 



I find that apples and pears receive in Tasmania frequently 6 



cwt. of bonedust and from 2 to 4 cwt. of kaimt per acre. 13,172 



acres were planted with apple and pear trees, and the estimated crop 



643,209 tons of apples and 34,629 tons of pears. New Zealand 



had 23,956 acres under orchard. 



A large number of cherry-trees have been planted at Feld- 

 brunnen, in Germany, in 1890, and most of these have been regularly 

 manured with 3 Ib. 6 oz. of Thomas phosphate and 1 Ib. 9 oz. f 

 muriate of potash. On an average they returned 7 Ib. 7 oz.. 

 against 4 Ib. 9 oz. where not manured. Those trees that also re- 

 ceived 1 Ib. 7 oz. of nitrate of soda averaged 9 Ib., and the fruit 

 was heavier and of superior quality when manured. 



Experiments made with peach-trees in New Jersey, U.S.,. 

 during five years showed that only where potash, phosphates, and 

 nitrogen were applied, leaves and trees were healthy and the fruit 

 of good quality. Nitrogenous manures produced wood and foliage, 

 potash and phosphoric acid encourage fruit buds and maturation 

 of fruit, refined potash salts increase the size of the fruits. They~ 

 were beautifully colored, and have a most excellent taste. Use 

 90 to 180 Ib. of nitrate of soda, 320 to 640 Ib. of phosphatic 

 fertiliser, and 110 to 220 Ib. of muriate of sulphate of potash. 



You have perhaps to wait a dozen years before the crop of olives is 

 payable, but these trees require little attention, are regular croppers, 

 and last for hundreds of years, provided you can give some manure. 

 Irrigation brings them quicker into bearing ; and Professor Bioletti 

 says that although the soil must not be poor, sandy, and loamy, even 

 rocky soil within 100 miles of the- sea, is suitable. I find nothing 

 recorded that commercial manures have been used. Trees raised 

 from seed are longest living, but the flesh of the olive must be 

 removed, or many will not germinate. The pits should be placed 

 in water, and those that float rejected. After that the pite must 

 be cracked with care before sowing to quicken germination, or 

 placed for twenty-four hours in a solution containing half a 

 pound of caustic soda to a gallon of water. A sandy bed heavily- 

 manured with thoroughly rotten manure is required. The pits 

 are actually surrounded by well rotted manure, which facilitates 

 transplanting, as a ball of earth may adhere to the plant. 



Almonds seem to be specially adapted for South Australia, and 

 ought to pay well if planted in suitable localities, where the blossoms- 

 are not damaged by frost. I have not heard of any manuring. Per- 

 haps that proposed in a handbook for the Association of Ammonia 

 Manufacturers for apricot and nectarine trees will be also suitable 

 for almonds. It states that a good luxuriantly-growing tree will' 

 with profit consume about 7 Ib. of sulphate of ammonia in March and 



