40 FRUIT CULTURE. 



APPLICATION OF FERTILIZERS. 



At what season shall we apply manures ? It is 

 evident that the roots take in nourishment dur- 

 ing the summer, in the season of active growth. 

 The application of liquid fertilizers at periods 

 when fruit is growing has shown immediate and 

 remarkable results, increasing the size, in marked 

 contrast with that which received no liquid. It 

 would seem that stable manures and many other 

 fertilizers are leached or dissolved by heavy rains 

 and speedily affect the roots. This is desirable 

 only during the season of growth. When the 

 roots are dormant it may prove a positive injury. 

 A heavy dressing of fresh horse manure applied 

 on the surface of a rose border in November 

 seriously injured the roots. A similar experi- 

 ment with liquid from horse manure, applied be- 

 fore the roses had commenced growth, proved 

 equally injurious. But liquid of the same 

 strength was freely used when the growth was 

 vigorous, and with marked advantage. 



The time of application must depend, to a con- 

 siderable degree, upon the nature of the fertil- 

 izer. If easily soluble it can be used from time 

 to time a little in advance of the requirements of 

 the plant. If, on the other hand, it is slow in de- 

 composition it should be applied either in the 



