82 



CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL. 



impossibility of mellowing the ground by repeated cultivation. 

 For this reason, a low crop of peas has been found much worse 

 than a heavy growth of Indian corn. 



Renovating Old Trees. When old trees become feeble, there 



FIG. 1 18. Faulty Manuring. 



is no better way of imparting to them vigor than by manuring. 

 Instead of adopting the more common practice of digging a 

 circular trench around them and filling this with manure, the 

 operation may be performed in a more perfect and efficient 

 manner by digging narrow radiating trenches from within a 

 few feet of the trunk, directly from it this will prevent cut- 

 ting many of the roots. The an- 

 nexed diagram (Fig. 119) will show 

 the position of these trenches. 

 These may then be filled wth a 

 compost made of turf, stable manure, 

 ashes, and perhaps a little bone 

 manure the turf to be the chief 

 constituent, say one-half or two- 

 thirds and the ashes say one- 

 thirtieth. The bone manure is not 

 essential, as its constituent parts are 

 in common manure in small quan- 

 tities. If this is done in autumn, 

 the roots will be prepared to penetrate it early in spring, and 

 if the tree is not past recovery, it may make a new growth. 



FIG. 119. Diagram for Trenches 

 for Renovating Old Trees. 



