142 THE FRUIT-TREE AND SHRUB PRUNE R. 



vegetable matter, such as leaf-mould and peat ; espe- 

 cially is this the case with flowering shrubs, such as 

 Rhododendrons, Kalmias, Azaleas, Berberis, Roses, &c. 

 The variegated Hollies especially will be benefited by 

 good thick top-dressings of leaf-mould, more particu- 

 larly if they have been recently planted. 



Nothing suits Roses better than good top-dressings 

 of decomposed stable dung put on from November until 

 January. 



Lawns. — "We often have complaints about these 

 becoming mossy, and are asked, " What can I do to 

 remedy the evil r " The thing is too plain to be mis- 

 understood. The lawn has become mossy through 

 poverty, the land being exhausted. In such a case 

 apply a top-dressing annually, consisting of old de- 

 cayed stable manure, or moderate dressings with soot 

 sown over the grass in March or April. Guano and 

 Goulding's " special " may be sown over lawns which 

 have become impoverished ; but sand is useless, either 

 to kill moss or to restore grass. 



Guano will be found most beneficial to fruit trees of 

 all classes when the plants are poor and weak and the 

 soil is poor also ; it must not, however, be used upon 

 them during the inactive state of the trees, but during 

 the commencement of the active state, say from 

 February until July, April and May being the best 

 time. 



The Diseases of Fruit Trees. 



As the diseases of fruit trees frequently have to do with 

 the handling of them by way of pruning, &c, I think 

 it most important to offer a few remarks in connection 

 with this subject. I am more than ever convinced of 

 the injurious effects of rashly and thoughtlessly digging 

 the borders where Peach-trees and Plum-trees are 

 planted, or even digging them at all. I agree with 

 making good use of a south border under a wall carry- 

 ing Peaches, Nectarines, and Apricots; and most people 

 would be almost ready to sacrifice the fruit to obtain 

 a good crop of very early Radishes, Potatoes, Dwarf 

 French Beans, or Lettuce. I well know that the value 



