THE PHTLOSUFfiY OF MANURING ORCHARDS. 457 



compost, and the new-school disciple, who uses guano and liquid 

 manures, are both ready witnesses to prove the universal and vital 

 importance of these animal fertilizers, manures that accelerate the 

 growth, and give volume and bulk to every part of a tree or plant. 



But the value and importance of the heavier and more insoluble 

 earthy elements have often been disputed, and, though, ably demon- 

 strated of late, there are still comparatively few who understand 

 their application, or who have any clear and definite ideas of their 

 value in the economy of vegetable structure. 



To get at the exact quantities of these ingredients, which enter 

 into the composition of plants, it is necessary to analyze their ashes. 



It is not our purpose, at the present moment, to go beyond the 

 limits of the orchard. We shall therefore confine ourselves to the 

 most important elements which make up the wood and bark of the 

 apple, the pear, and the grape-vine. 



According to Dr. Emmons's analysis, in 100 parts of the ashes 

 of the sap-wood of the apple-tree, there are three elements that 

 greatly preponderate, as follows : 16 parts potash, 17 parts phosphate 

 of lime, and 18 parts lime. In the bark of this tree, there are 

 4 parts potash and 51 parts lime. 



100 parts of the ashes of the sap-wood of the pear-tree, show 

 22 parts potash, 27 parts phosphate of lime, and 12 parts lime; the 

 bark giving 6 parts potash, 6 parts phosphate, and 30 parts lime. 



The analysis of the common wild grape-vine, shows 20 parts pot- 

 ash, 15 parts phosphate of lime, and 17 parts lime, to every 100 parts ; 

 the bark giving 1 part potash, 5 parts phosphate of lime, and 39 

 parts lime. 



Now, no intelligent cultivator can examine these results (which 

 we have given thus in the rough* to simplify the matter) without 



* The following are Dr. Emmons's exact analyses : 



ASH OF THE PEAR. 



Sap-wood. Bark. 



Potash, 22-25 6'20 



Soda, . . . . . 1-84 



Chlorine, 0'31 1-70 



Sulphuric acid, . . . . 0'50 1'80 



Phosphate of lime, . . . 27 '22 6 '50 



