AND ITS DISEASE. 61 



''Chinese method" of manuring the roots rather 

 than the soil, by applying the fertilizing liquid or 

 solid to the base of the tree by first removing the- 

 earth from around it, giving it, in the case of the 

 peach, a shovelful of wood ashes occasionally, or 

 soap-suds, lime, poudrette, or a little composted 

 guano, or other alkali, graduating the quantity to 

 the strength of the application and size of the tree. 

 This will give better immediate results than ten 

 times the quantity scattered broadcast on the sur- 

 face, as around the base of the tree the application 

 is at once direct to the proper place, and will soon 

 show the effect on the orchard. My views on this 

 point are contained in an article submitted at a 

 meeting of the Fruit Grower's Society of Pennsyl- 

 vania, held at Reading, January 15, 1873, and pub- 

 lished in the proceedings of the society, in volume- 

 9, of the Pennsylvania State Agricultural Society, 

 inquiring as to the "Best Method of Manuring 

 Fruit Trees, Their Appropriate Manures, &c." from 

 which the following is extracted : 



"Perhaps it is enough to apply the remedy di- 

 rect to the roots of the trees around their trunk y 

 instead of treating all the soil of the orchard ; ex 

 periments, as shown, seem to have established this 

 fact. With my experiments with ashes, charcoal, 

 poudrette, also with lime, the application around 

 the tree, first removing the earth from the surface, 

 I have found quite sufficient ; the potash or other 

 alkalies being absorbed and carried into the circu 



