FRUIT CULTURE IN FRANCE 333 



acid, potash, and chalk. Farmyard manure contains per cubic metre 80 per 

 cent, water ; 0.13 per cent, phosphoric acid ; 0.49 per cent, potash ; 0.55 per 

 cent, lime ; 0.49 per cent, nitrogen ; 5 per cent, minerals secondary importance ; 

 13 per cent, woody fibre. Town night-soil contains a little less nitrogen and 

 potash, and a little more phosphoric acid than farmyard manure. 



Though natural manure is indispensable in order to ensure to the soil its 

 richness in humus, yet it does not suffice, and the many artificial manures are 

 valuable complements on account of their economy in manipulation ; and 

 because, taught by the composition of the soil, and the needs of the trees, we 

 can apply any requisite element to the exclusion of others. With natural 

 manure, in order, for example, to apply a certain quantity of potash, we should 

 have to add in a manner as costly as it is useless, a great quantity of phosphoric 

 acid, lime, and nitrogen. In the use of chemical manures, the analysis of the 

 soil and of the plants is a very valuable, though not absolute indication. 

 Nitrogen acts chiefly upon leaf growth, and is recommended for trees fertile 

 yet not very vigorous. Phosphoric acid, on the contrary, allays foliaceous 

 growth, and ensures fruit production. Potash favours a good growth of 

 wood. 



Aeration of the Soil. — The improvement of land can only take place by 

 the different substances being mixed well together. This is effected by digging 

 and trenching. The depth to which the soil must be moved varies. A good 

 alluvial soil requires but little digging, while a clay soil demands deep tillage ; 

 trees with tap roots require much deeper tillage than the same trees upon 

 stocks with spreading surface roots ; for example, the pear upon the quince. 



For pears upon the pear stock, the peach upon the almond, digging to the 

 depth of I m^tre is necessary ; while for pears upon the quince, and for cherries, 

 a depth of om.8o is sufficient ; finally, peaches upon the plum stock and the 

 apricot are satisfied with from om.6o to om.70. Whatever method of digging 

 is employed, it is well to perform it some months before planting. 



Planting. — Planting is done from the end of October to the beginning of 

 April, always supposing it is not prevented by frost, heavy rain, or scorching 

 sun. Planting in dry and light soils is best done early ; in those which are 

 strong, cold, and wet it is preferably done late. When planting in spring it 

 is well to soak every plant in order to make the earth adhere to the roots ; if 

 late in the season and warm, it is a good thing to steep the roots in a tub 

 containing a mixture of liquid clay and cow manure. In preparing trees for 

 planting cut back any bruised roots and trim broken branches. Cut ofT 

 vigorous branches to a third or a quarter of their length in order to obtain a 

 symmetrical tree. When the tree is planted the swelling caused by the graft 

 should be just above the soil. In planting wall trees the collar of the tree 

 should be some little distance from the wall in order to facilitate the develop- 

 ment of roots on that side. When the soil has been well prepared beforehand 

 in the manner indicated it is only necessary to make a hole suited to the extent 

 of the roots, around which these are spread. Planting is done by two men ; 

 one holds the tree while the other places fresh soil round the roots. Afterwards 

 it is made more or less firm, according to the state of the soil. A wet soil 



