WEEDING AND UPKEEP 91 



by assisting nature to render these stores available 

 to our trees. 



Nothing will so assist the work of the minute 

 bacteria or ferments of the soil in their task of 

 converting nitrogenous matter into soluble plant 

 food as good tillage, which results in the conserva- 

 tion of moisture and the correction of acidity. 



Trees suffering from an insufficiency of food will 

 soon render this apparent by their poor growth, 

 and failure to perfect good crops. When this 

 occurs, artificial manuring must be resorted to. 

 The kind of manure best suited depends upon 

 the crop and the nature of the soil, and here 

 chemical analysis can give the best advice by 

 showing where the deficiency is. 



It has been proved over and over again that on 

 an average soil no system of manuring gives such 

 good and lasting results as mulching, farmyard 

 manure, weeds, leaves, etc. being used for the 

 purpose. The use of an artificial fertiliser would 

 give a quicker return, but over a long period, 

 mulching has proved its superiority. This 

 system of manuring cannot be harmful to even 

 young plantations. It is a convenient manner of 

 getting rid of our weeds and estate refuse, such as 



