20 FRUIT CULTURE. 



burnt as fuel but a small proportion of ashes, which on 

 analysis show that there is, besides vegetable matter, a 

 great loss of the mineral constituents of the soil, which 

 will of course be greater, according as the pruning knife 

 is used upon the branches, and the leaves after falling are 

 removed from the land. 



The following table shows the percentage composition 

 of the ash or mineral matter of the fruits themselves. 



The following table shows the amount of mineral in- 

 gredients extracted from the soil by the growth of one ton 

 of diffei'ent kinds of fruit. 



Ibs. 



Apples 9-Q 



Pears . . . . . . .- 6'7 



Cherries 15-Q 



Plums 13-7 



Gooseberries . . . . . 11 '2 



Figs 51-5 



Walnuts .... . 38-1 

 Filberts 33-6 



It is obvious, therefore, that every ton of fruit con- 



