50 RATIONAL FRUIT CULTURE. 



TBE COST OF STABLE MANURE. 



In many market gardens, where the trees are in full bear- 

 ing, the dressing is exceedingly heavy — often at the rate of 

 fifty loads to the acre. The cost in the past has been about 

 £10, but it will be more now, and, owing to the increasing 

 price, is likely to be much more in the future. In order to 

 ascertain whether it could not be reduced, a series of experi- 

 ments have been carried out for several years, with the result 

 that large crops were obtained by means of half the dressing, 

 supplemented by artificials, and even of artificials alone. In 

 both cases the expense was greatly lowered — in the former 

 by about 30 per cent., and, in the latter, by about 60 per cent. 

 Obviously, the fruit-grower, toxious to economise as much 

 as possible, should turn his attention to artificial fertilisers. 



ARTIFICIAL SOURCES OF NITRATE. 



The chief artificial sources of nitrate are nitrate of soda 

 and sulphate of ammonia. The latter contains a larger pro- 

 portion of nitrogen than the former, and, if it can be bought 

 at the same, or a less, price,, it is the cheaper. It does not 

 follow, however, that it should be preferred. Nitrate of soda 

 abstracts moisture from the atmosphere, and consequently 

 tends to make the soil moist. It is, therefore, generally better 

 for light, dry land, and sulphate of ammonia for land inclined 

 to be wet. The usual dressings are two hundredweight of 

 the nitrate, and one hundredweight, or rather more, of the 

 sulphate. As both are very soluble in water, they should be 

 applied only when they can be used at once by the trees — in 

 spring, or early summer^olherwise they will drain away and 

 b^ wasted. In the case of plants capable of growing during 

 mild weather in winter, it is different. It has been found that 

 nitrate applied {<> wheat in November or December adds very 

 considerably to the weight of the crop. 



