Soils, Fertilizers and Irrigation 161 



It should be pulverized so that there shall not be lumps and 

 masses in the same place for fear of root injury. Of course, the 

 strength depends upon how much earth is gathered up with the 

 manure. Sometimes there is so much waste material that it can be 

 handled just as ordinary farm manure is. 



We should not use over 20 pounds of clean droppings to a 

 young tree and should mix it with the soil for a considerable dis- 

 tance around the tree. Old bearing trees might stand two or three 

 tons to the acre if distributed all over the ground. The material 

 contains everything that is necessary for the growth of the tree 

 and formation of the fruit. 



Ashes and Poultry Manure. 



It is said that aslics mixed with chicken manure is not good. I use 

 ashes altogether on the drop boards because I can keep the boards cleaner. 

 The refuse is then scattered around the fruit trees. 



Wood ashes and lime should never be used as you propose, 

 because they set free the nitrogen compounds which are the most 

 valuable content of poultry manures. This action is conditioned 

 largely upon the presence of moisture, and if the droppings are kept 

 dry and hurried into the soil the loss is lessened. Coal ashes, on 

 the other hand, are a thoroughly good absorbent when the coal 

 burns to a fine ash or is sifted. They do not act as wood ashes do, 

 because they do not contain soluble alkali. They also have a good 

 mellowing effect on heavy soil. 



Caustic Lime Not a Good Absorbent. 



Would air-slackened lime be suitable to sprinkle over the dropping 

 boards in hen houses? 



Gypsum is greatly superior to air-slacked lime for the hen houses, 

 as it has every beneficial effect of the latter, while the air-slacked 

 lime will set free much of the fertilizing value of the manure, which 

 the gypsum will not do. 



Too Much Chicken Manure for Young Trees. 



/ have peach trees and apple trees, 3 to 6 years old, that are very 

 thrifty but grow only wood. The soil was poor zvhen planting, and I 

 have put on plenty of szvccpings from the chicken-yards. I suppose that 

 is the cause of the trouble. 



Undoubtedly you have overmanured your soil with chicken 

 manure, which is a very strong fertilizer and should only be used in 

 limited quantities. In order to counteract any acidity or ill effects 

 which have been produced by its excessive application, it would be 

 desirable for you to apply about 500 to 1000 pounds per acre of 

 common builders' lime at the beginning of the rainy season, working 

 it into the soil with the fall or early winter plowing. Do not cut 

 back the tree during the dormant season, although, of course, you 



