/IDanner of TUsing ffertiliaers* 341 



lateral roots may be cut without injury to the plant, this operation 

 serving rather to benefit it, as it is a species of pruning which causes 

 the roots to grow with renewed vigor. The size of the holes will vary 

 according to the fertilizer used. If the fertilizer be cattle-dung or 

 coffee-pulp the hole is made three feet long, eighteen inches wide, and 

 one foot deep. As concentrated fertilizers are stronger they do not 

 require holes as large. 



When the ground is level and the trees are planted at short distances 

 apart and in straight furrows, a quadrangular excavation may be made 

 for the fertilizer between every four trees. In hilly ground it is prefer- 

 able to dig the hole above each tree, so that the fertilizer, washed 

 down by the rains, may be retained by the roots of the trees. This 

 manner of making the holes has, besides, the advantage that the fertil- 

 izer remains in the shade and under shelter of the foliage of the tree, 

 with the result that it evaporates less quickly and does not cause weeds 

 to grow which would absorb all the fertilizing matter before it could 

 benefit the coffee plant, as might easily happen if the fertilizer were 

 put in a place exposed to the sun. 



When mixed manures are used a hole is made on the ground above 

 each tree, at the distance already mentioned ; it should be semi-circular 

 in shape, and nine inches wide and six inches deep. 



All the holes made for fertilizers are to be filled with the prunings, 

 and any other vegetable substance which may be at hand, and covered 

 with loose earth taken from the surface of the ground. The earth 

 taken from the hole is to be spread wherever there are any uncovered 

 roots, and should be well pressed down, to prevent the rains from 

 washing it away. 



Fertilizers should be mixed with dry earth before using them. 



c. Period at which the Fertilizers should be Used. The best time to 

 manure the ground is during the wet season. The only fertilizer that 

 should be used in the dry season is cow-dung, which may be used at 

 any time. 



The beneficial effects of manure lasts for three years, and conse- 

 quently it will be necessary to use the manure only once in three years. 



It is advisable to manure the plantation before it begins to decline, 

 not only because this increases its productiveness, but also because the 

 cost will then be less than when, the vitality of the ground being 

 almost exhausted, it will be necessary to restore it almost entirely. 



d. Cost of Fertilizers. Mr. Sabonadiere calculates the cost per 

 year of manuring an acre of ground at from $15 to $50, according to 

 the price of the substance used as manure and the quantity employed, 

 which gives an average of $32.50 per acre, or $3.52} per cord. 



The cost of fertilizers in Soconusco would probably be much 

 greater. 



