84 THE CULTIVATION OF THE 



north, about one hundred rods from the orchard. For 

 the first two years they were rather neglected, but the 

 third season they were carefully pruned, and carefully ex- 

 amined for borers, which were destroyed when found ; soon 

 indications of disease began to appear, and, to counteract 

 its effect, various substances were applied to the soil, in 

 addition to careful and severe pruning and thorough cul- 

 tivation. The first application was stable manure, but 

 while this seemed to benefit some of the trees, some of 

 them failed to come to time. The next thing used was 

 the sweepings from a blacksmith's shop, which contain, 

 in addition to droppings from animals, many hoof- 

 parings and iron-filings ; these were, perhaps, rather more 

 beneficial than the first material used. About this time, 

 under the direction of Dr. Goessmann, special fertilizers 

 of various kinds were applied, and, by repeated experi- 

 ments, it was found that bone and potash, with a little 

 magnesia, gave the best results. The amount of each 

 of these materials recommended was, as follows : 



400 lbs. (50 lbs. PO5 ) of acid bone phosphate, 150 

 to 200 lbs. of Muriate of Potash, (100 to 150 lbs. potash,) 

 and 100 lbs. of crude Sulphate of Magnesia per acre. 

 This should be applied in the autumn, just belore the 

 ground freezes, or very early in the spring, and well 

 worked into the soil for a space of from five to ten feet 

 in diameter under the tree. 



The amount of this fertilizer used, should, however, 

 vary with different soils, and it will be found sometimes 



