130 The Principles of Fruit-growing 



application of stable manure one year, may profit more 

 by some chemical fertilizer the next year. 



In thoroughly tilled orchards the use of bam manures 

 should sometimes be discouraged, for the chief element of 

 fertility in them — ^if they are not leached — is usually 

 nitrogen. This advice is particularly appUcable to vine- 

 yards, and all other fruits that run very strongly to wood. 

 In such cases, it is better economy to apply the manures 

 to the annual crops of the farm. The old, neglected apple 

 orchards of the country, however, may receive bam 

 manures with safety; yet, even here it is a question whether 

 economy would not dictate tillage and late green manures 

 to supply the nitrogen, except, perhaps, for a season or two 

 when an attempt is making to rejuvenate, a plantation. 

 Mulching a sod orchard with manure, or with hay cut on 

 it, often gives fairly good results in cases in which the 

 land cannot be tilled; but better results in the way of fer- 

 tihzing and in freedom from weeds and insects may be 

 secured by pasturing closely with sheep or swine and 

 adding chemical manures. 



All stable and bam manures should be carefully 

 protected, saved and utilized: where they should be applied 

 — whether on annual crops or on fruit-plantations — only 

 the grower himself can determine; it is certain that the 

 fruits will profit by them. 



In blackberry, raspberry and strawberry plantations, 

 stable manures may be used moderately as a mulch, and 

 the leachings will be of service; and if the material finally 

 is plowed under, double results will be secured. 



In general, the same principles cover the application 

 of manures — as to when and how — ^to fruit-lands as to 

 general farm lands, and this subject may not be discussed 

 here at any length. The apphcations are usually made in 



