334 SYSTEMS OF MANURING CROPS [chap. 



the necessary plant food can be more cheaply obtained 

 in other forms. The subsidiary manures for hops are 

 of the most varied nature, but shoddy in some form or 

 other is a highly favoured substance, and should be 

 applied at the rate of from i to 2 tons per acre, accord- 

 ing to its richness in nitrogen, in the autumns when 

 dung is not being used. When the ground is first 

 worked in the spring the more active fertilisers should 

 be applied, 6 cwts. per acre of fish or meat guano or of 

 rape dust, with about 4 cwts. per acre of superphosphate, 

 or 3 cwts. of steamed bone flour or phosphatic guano, 

 will then carry the crop through. Many growers are 

 in the habit of using a further dressing of rich guano 

 or active nitrogenous manure when the hops are coming 

 into burr, but this is probably unwise, as it induces late 

 sappy growth, very susceptible to attacks of blight. A 

 good coat of dung at this time is, however, of great 

 value, especially on young hops, but its immediate action 

 is more as a mulch than a fertiliser. Potash manures 

 are only required on the light sandy or chalky lands ; in 

 such cases they should be applied in the winter or early 

 spring. Phosphates are, however, most essential ; on 

 the strong soils as much as 10 cwts. per acre of basic 

 slag may be applied in the winter in place of the super- 

 phosphate specified above. 



Fruit planiatiojis under tillage should receive much 

 the same kind of manuring as hops do, though in smaller 

 quantities. Dung is not so desirable, and the necessary 

 nitrogen can be well supplied by digging in i ton per 

 acre of shoddy in the winter, or a spring manuring of 

 meat or fish guano or rape dust may take its place. 

 Phosphates are very important, and potash is also 

 indispensable, especially on the lighter soils and for all 

 stone fruit. Four cwts. of kainit per acre may be given 

 in the winter. Fruit trees in grass land should not 



