FOR PROFIT. 19 



arable) in February, or be left upon the surface if the 

 trees are in grass. In plantations the rule is to manure 

 once in two or three years as requisite; some plantations 

 may not require it for years, others where the soil is 

 naturally poor for fruit trees and bushes, can be 

 advantageously dressed yearly, the manure being 

 placed on the land in winter, being dug in at once 

 before its virtue is lost. In certain cases it is 

 preferable to dig early, laying manure on the surface 

 afterwards, as in light soils, with a wet winter, much 

 of the nutriment from farm manure may be lost. 

 This of course does not apply to shoddy, wool waste, 

 rags, fur clips, etc., which are valuable stimulants for 

 the purpose but decompose less rapidly. The advantage 

 of these portable manures is the readiness with which 

 they can be placed on the land ; being in bags, one 

 can be dropped here and there, to be opened and 

 spread out before the diggers. Other manures used 

 are sprats from the coast, London dung, road scrapings* 

 and parings, the latter, when mixened with farm yard 

 manure and sweetened with lime, is very useful ; 20 

 to 30 tons per acre is a good dressing for bush fruits. 

 The quantity of artificial manures used varies from 

 one to two tons of the lighter kinds to the acre ; 

 sprats and powerful artificial manures, 5 to 10 cwt. 

 It is sound policy to arrange the plantation so that 

 each quarter may in turn have a share, thus spreading 

 the cost over a number of years. Where the farm is 

 in the neighbourhood of rivers, cheap freights of dung 

 can sometimes be secured from the cities and towns, 

 which can be stored for use, but it is better to purchase 

 it so that it can be used at once. No doubt, on 



Road scrapings must not be used where the roads are tarred. 



