MANURES. 



141 



the case are well considered ; but as a rule these will 

 not bear very strong stimulants when so situated, as 

 they generally make too much growth and have to be 

 checked. When, however, they are old and appear to 

 be weak, some strong liquid manure may be given 

 them once or twice during the early growing season, 

 say from May until July. It should be poured on the 

 border and allowed to soak down ; it is not at all 

 necessary to pour it directly upon the roots close to the 

 stem of the trees, but all over the border, and at a dis- 

 tance of six or eiffht feet from the stems. I have 

 often been amused when I have seen manure applied 

 in great abundance to a Vine quite strong within a 

 radius of a couple of yards from the stem. " Poor 

 Vines," thought I, " this will do you no good, but will 

 ultimately kill you." I wish the theory of physiologi- 

 cal botany was more studied by our young professionals 

 — and some of the old ones too — then they would know 

 full well that manure put only just about the stems of 

 such trees as the Fig, Plum, and Peach, as well as the 

 Vine, is of comparatively little use, especially in the 

 case of trees that have been planted ten or fifteen 

 years. 



Let those who have Vines planted remember that as 

 they advance in age so they progress and extend their 

 feeding spongioles, or extreme roots, in search of nutri- 

 ment ; nor will they be confined within the limits of a 

 few square feet. I have known Vines that have been 

 planted in rich soil inside a vinery get through the 

 front wall to the outside, and extend their ramifications 

 some distance in the course of only two or three seasons 

 from the planting, notwithstanding the soil inside was 

 good. Therefore, whenever manure of any kind, 

 whether it is solid or liquid, is applied either as a top- 

 dressing or as an admixture with the body soil to esta- 

 blished plants, let it be used all over the area, and for 

 some considerable distance from the stems. 



The Conifers. — Even these and shrubberies, where 

 there are any valuable evergreen kinds, are benefited 

 by the application of top-dressings of decomposed 



