COMPOSITION OF FRUIT TREES 53 



e.g., flavour of fruits, variations in the physical 

 properties of timber, etc. 



The chemical composition of the ashes of various 

 trees, and of fruits, will prove what is abstracted 

 from the soil by their growth. 



The constituents of the ashes of certain fruit 

 trees are now given in alphabetical order. 



Apple {Pyrus malus, Natural Order, Rosaceae). 

 There are about 1,545 varieties in cultivation, and, 

 as a rule, apple trees prefer a deep rich loam. The 

 ashes of the wood and fruit contain in 100 parts:— 



The ashes also vary at different periods of 

 growth — unripe apples contain 0"32 per cent, of 

 iron oxide and 52 per cent, of potash, whereas ripe 

 apples contain 1'93 per cent, of iron oxide and 56 

 per cent, of potash. 



One ton of apples extracts 9 lbs. of mineral 

 matter from the soil. 



