398 



This species of top-dressing, though less expensive, will not pay 

 nearly so well as the other, in proportion to the money laid out ; but 

 that will not probably amount to more than one-third of the former 

 cost. In either case, the pabulum of the tree will be surprisingly 

 enlarged, and in a way far more effective, than by any digging among 

 the roots ; while no injury will be done, by the former method, to the 

 numerous, minute, and capillary fibres, which in every case form the 

 true absorbents of the root. 



To the fruit-borders of a kitchen-garden, the same sort of manage- 

 ment may be very successfully applied. But in that view, I should 

 recommend, that the compost be made up of one-fourth part of coal- 

 ashes, completely freed of cinders, and three-fourths of any tolerable 

 soil. The whole should be prepared, in the manner already more than 

 once directed in the text, for planting, and also for invigorating trees in 

 the open park. If the fruit trees to be manured be planted against a 

 wall, the compost should cover the space of ten feet out : if they be in 

 the open borders, six feet may sufficiently answer the purpose. This 

 practice will by no means preclude the cultivation of leguminous crops, 

 and those especially, of which the roots run near the surface, and which 

 should always be preferred for such situations. 



Note III. Page 263. 



As the great object about all places, whether to the husbandman, or 

 to the arboriculturist, should be to increase the quantity of disposable 

 manure, it has been found by experience, that the juice or exudation 

 from the dunghill may be far more advantageously employed for that 

 purpose, than for watering the roots of trees. From this rule, however, 

 we must always except the roots of vines in the hothouse ; for no supe- 

 rior method has ever been found, of giving an immediate stimulus to the 

 growth of these plants. 



The object, to which I here allude, that is, the mode of employing 

 the juices of the dunghill, was, I believe, first suggested by the late 

 Lord Meadowbank, to whom alone we are indebted for the discovery of 

 the method of converting peat into manure, by means of fermentation. 

 The object is, to water peaty earth, if in a very decomposed state, and 

 80 produce excellent manure within a short period. That this liquid 

 will decompose pure peat itself, we are well aware ; but much time and 

 patience would be necessary to decompose it to any extent, and also a 

 greater command of the liquid, than could be easily procured. Who- 

 ever has dry peat-moss at hand, however, should not omit, when his 



