140 THE FRUIT-TREE AND SHRUB PRVXER. 



well as upon the disposition of the tree. If the sub- 

 soil is of a rich alluvial clay, deep and nutritious, and 

 the surface soil is good and upon the whole of a close 

 texture, and the trees are young or even of medium 

 age, and are disposed to give luxuriant growth, or 

 only a good average medium growth, then no top- 

 dressing will be required ; but if the soil is poor and 

 the trees are of only a medium or weak disposition — 

 which is always shown, first, by the smallness of the 

 young wood it makes, and, secondly, by the smallness 

 of the fruit — then top-dressings of thoroughly decom- 

 posed stable dung and pulverised cow manure may be 

 put on the borders from March until May, but not 

 before March, unless the situation is exceptionally dry 

 and gravelly, in which case they may be put on from 

 January until April. 



The Pear seldom or never requires top-dressings, 

 for as a rule it always grows too free. Apples, espe- 

 cially old Apple-trees, require them frequently, using 

 any strong manure. Fig-trees are like Grape Vines, 

 and require good stimulants and all the sunshine the 

 roots and branches can possibly get, with top-dressings 

 of any decomposed manure, which should be laid on 

 during the spring. 



Gooseberries require a heavy top-dressing of any 

 kind of fresh manure from the common sewer or 

 cesspool, put on from November until January. The 

 same may be done with Black Currants, and also Red 

 Currants if they are weak. 



Raspberries require a top-dressing as well as manure 

 forked in if the land is dry and poor. 



As a substitute, liquid manures may be applied to 

 any of the trees above named, especially if they are in 

 pots. This may consist of the contents of the cesspool 

 put on while the trees are growing. It may be used 

 in its original strength or diluted with pure water, 

 according to the constitution and character of the 

 object it is used for. 



For Peaches and Plums on walls growing out of 

 doors, care must be taken that the circumstances of 



