28 FIELD NOTES ON APPLE CULTUEE. 



CHAPTER VII. 

 MANURES FOR THE ORCHARD. 



It appears to be a general notion that fruit trees do 

 not require manure in the same proportion as other crops. 

 The reason for this notion is apparent. Entirely neg- 

 lected trees usually bear a moderate crop of fruit, at 

 least once in two or three years, and not having culti- 

 vated and liberally manured trees to contrast with them, 

 the grower does not see great need of manuring. To 

 satisfy curiosity, let a person cultivate and manure 

 a portion of a neglected ' orchard, and then note the 

 comparative thriftiuess and fruitfulness of the cultivated 

 and neglected portions. Lack of vigor in trees is one 

 reason for their being attacked by insects. 



The first step in the enriching of an orchard is good 

 cultivation, as recommended in the j^receding chapter. 

 For good cultivation there is no adequate substitute. 

 Barnyard manure is the best of all manures for the or- 

 chard in the general run of cases. It cannot always be 

 had in sufficient quantity, however, to supply the orchard 

 oreven a portion of it, as the fruit trees are commonly 

 an entirely secondary consideration to grain and vegeta- 

 ble crops. If crops are grown in the orchard, the trees 

 will obtain a part of the manure which is applied to 

 the crop. It is a good plan to reserve a certain portion of 

 the manure each year for the orchard and to apply it to 

 different parts of the orchard in succession. It should 

 be plowed or harrowed in in the spring. The old mis- 

 take of applying the manure close about the trunk of the 



