22 MANURES FOR FRUIT TREES 



contain approximately : — 60 per cent, of sand, 

 26 per cent, of clay, and 7 per cent, each of 

 calcium (lime) carbonate and humus. This soil 

 would contain enough sand to make it warm, 

 retentive of moisture and sufficiently open to 

 admit air into its interstices ; enough clay to 

 render it sufficiently moist, without being wet 

 and cold, and capable of holding manures ; enough 

 carbonate of lime to aid in the decomposition 

 of organic matter and to provide the necessary 

 lime for plant-growth ; and finally, a sufficiency 

 of humus to assist in providing plant-food and 

 the production of carbon dioxide in the soil.^ 



Concerning the composition of the soil upon 

 the growth of trees, it may be stated that whortle- 

 berries, larches and fir-trees prefer sandy soils, 

 beeches and yews calcareous soils, poplars and 

 oaks clayey soils, apples and pears loamy soils, 

 and plums, gooseberries and raspberries prefer 

 sandy loams. Not only the physical nature of 

 a soil, but the individual ingredients, or chemical 

 composition, of a soil are of the utmost import- 

 ance for the proper growth of trees. Their roots 



' The water-holding power of soils is the following : clay soil 

 40 per cent, of water, loam 51 per cent., heavy clay 61 per cent., 

 and fine carbonate of lime 85 per cent, of water. 



