60 SPECIAL MANURES. 



surfeit would result from its abundant and exclusive appli- 

 cation, an evil in no wise resulting from the use of ashes. 

 But over-doses, even of these, should be avoided. 



The large proportion of lime in the wood an.d bark of the 

 apple, indicates its value as a manure for this fruit ; we 

 accordingly find that leached ashes, which contain much 

 lime, are eminently useful. Leached as well as unleached 

 ashes may indeed be applied with great advantage to nearly 

 all fruit trees. Bones contain much phosphate of lime, and, 

 pulverized, they would undoubtedly in many cases produce 

 an excellent effect on the pear, and other species. 



Iron is found only in minute quantities in the wood and 

 bark of trees ; yet the speedy restoration from pale and 

 sickly to deep green and luxuriant foliage, by its application 

 to the roots in some instances, proves that however small 

 its proportion may be, its presence is essential. 



An interesting experiment is stated in the Horticulturist,* 

 upon a large pear tree, bearing blighted, cracked and worth- 

 less fruit, which resulted in its perfect restoration to health, 

 and the production of smooth and fair crops. This change 

 was affected by digging, three feet distant from the tree, 

 a circular trench four feet wide and twenty inches deep ; 

 filling this with fresh, rich soil and turf, and intermingling 

 two bushels of scoriae from a blacksmith's forge, two bushels 

 of charcoal, and two pounds of potash. The fresh soil and 

 potash, doubtless contributed largely to success. Other 

 experiments of a similar character have been equally 

 successful. 



Dr. Kirtland states that orchards on the limestone hills of 

 Ohio, invariably afford the best apples a remark fully 

 corroborated by other observations. The same eminent 

 cultivator gives the following account of his success with 

 specific manures : his pear trees on worn out land, made 

 but two to six inches growth in a single season, and the 

 fruit was blighted, knotted, and deficient in flavor. They 

 soon began to exhibit evidences of disease and old age. An 

 analysis of the soil was made by Dr. Emmons, indicating 

 its deficiencies. Dressings of phosphate of lime, [in pul- 

 verised bones,] ashes, and barn-yard manure, with a limited 

 supply of common salt, effected a complete renovation. 



* Vol. I., p. 226. 



