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surface, but it only very slowly reaches deep roots. The same 
remark applies probably to Thomas phosphate. Coarse bone dust 
is so slowly dissolved that when placed in the surface soil it is of 
scarcely any use to deep-rooted plants. And bone ash, bone 
black, and mineral phosphates are of all manures the least soluble, 
and, therefore, of the least use in orchards. In this connexion 
I may mention a new and very promising mode of manuring fruit 
trees, namely, that of putting the manure into holes 2 or 24 feet 
deep around each tree, there being from 1 to 4 such holes to each 
tree according to size, and the holes being put down in different 
places each year. By this method the manure gets at once to the 
roots, and it does not cause that growth of weeds which results 
from surface manuring. 
In laying out an orchard it is a good plan to dig the holes for 
the trees wide and deep, say, from 2 to 34 feet deep, and to place 
at the bottom of each hole from 3 to 8 lbs. of coarse bone dust. 
Before returning the soil to the hole it should be mixed with 
from 2 lbs. to 5 Ibs. of fine bone dust, and the upper foot or 18 
inches should be mixed with about 4 lbs. to 10 lbs. of dried blood. 
This amount of manure will generally serve until the trees come 
into bearing. After that a complete dressing of manure, accord- 
ing to the requirements of each soil, should be given each year, 
the amount being spread in a circle of from 2 feet to 6 feet radius 
around each tree, and dug or ploughed in. 
In conclusion, I would emphasize what I have already said in 
regard to the necessity and importance of rational manuring. 
Amongst the many benefits which agriculture has gained from 
science is a knowledge of the nature and action of plant foods. 
Fifty years ago nothing certain was known on this subject 
beyond the fact that increased crops were sometimes obtained by 
putting certain things, chiefly farm-yard manure, into the soil. 
’ Now, the reason why these things cause an increase of crop has 
been ascertained, the composition of manures and the action of 
each ingredient has been studied, and the nature and requirements 
of different soils have been to a great extent investigated ; and 
it has become possible, by applying in a business-like way the 
knowledge so gained, to obtain the largest crops at the least 
possible cost. Thus the sphere of profitable cultivation has been 
considerably widened. I have in lectures and published reports 
on several occasions shown from my own experiments in the field 
what results it was possible to obtain. And I would now urge 
cultivators in their own interests, and in the interests of the 
country, to endeavour to obtain similar results for themselves. 
Complete success may not attend their first efforts, but let them 
try again until they succeed. And if they will consult me in 
their efforts, it will give me pleasure to assist them when possible 
with counsel and advice. 
