82 



CULTIVATION OF THE SOIL. 



impossibility of mellowing the ground by repeated cultivation. 

 For this reason, a low crop of peas has been found much worse 

 than a heavy growth of Indian corn. 

 Renovating Old Trees. — When old trees become feeble, there 



Fig. h8.— Faulty Manuring. 



is no better way of imparting to them vigor than by manuring. 

 Instead of adopting the more common practice of digging a 

 circular trench around them and filling this with manure, the 

 operation may be performed in a more perfect and efficient 

 manner by digging narrow radiating trenches from within a 

 few feet of the trunk, directly from it — this will prevent cut- 

 ting many of the rootis. The an- 

 nexed diagram (Fig. 119) will show 

 the position of these trenches. 

 These may then be fiilled wth a 

 compost niade of turf, stable manure, 

 ashes, and perhaps a little bone 

 manure — the turf to be the chief 

 constituent, say one-half or two- 

 thirds— and the ashes say one- 

 thirtieth. The bone manure is not 

 essential, as its constituent parts are 

 in common manure in small quan- 

 tities. If this is done in autumn, 

 the roots will be prepared to penetrate it early in spring, and 

 if the tree is not past recovery, it may make a new growth. 



Fig. 119.— Diagram for Trenches 

 for Renovating Old Trees. 



