CARE OF THE FRUIT GARDEN. 43 



fall or earlj' spring. When the roots are 

 active they seem to be eager to absorb large 

 quantities of soluble food, which would seri- 

 ously harm them when in a dormant state. 

 Cow manure is a cool and safe material, and 

 may be used in large quantities at any sea- 

 son. More also will be required, as it has 

 much less fertilizing value than horse manure. 

 As stable manure is slow in decomposing, 

 when not heated, it should be applied early, 

 but not in such quantity in the fall that its 

 strong juices shall penetrate to the roots and 

 burn them. A mulch of an inch or so in 

 depth will not injure the roots of apples, pears, 

 and quinces, and will protect them from the 

 winter frosts. 



A common practice has been to cart fresh 

 manure from the stable in the early spring, 

 spreading it broadcast over tliC garden and 

 working it in with a plough or cultivator. 

 This involves the least amount of labor, and it 

 has been thought with no loss by fermentation. 

 But a moderate degree of fermentation is now 

 considered to be important. The heat caused, 

 bv the ferment of bacteria speedily reduces 

 the coarse, strawy material to a condition for 

 use, and it is now asserted that there is a posi- 

 tive addition by the vast multiplication and 

 decay of infusoria. It is a common opinion 



