COMPOSITION OF FRUIT TREES 79 



trees ; sheltered gardens for bushes or pyramids ; 

 and soils sloping south-west and south-east for 

 standard-pear trees. A judicious selection of 

 varieties and aspects, in conjunction with skilful 

 culture and manuring, will do much towards the 

 production of fine crops of fruit, whereas careless- 

 ness and indifference are sure to promote failure. 



Dr. Wagner says : — "It is impossible to state 

 how much more easily, and with what greater 

 financial advantage, fruit culture and flower 

 growing could be conducted if a rational system 

 of plant manuring could be introduced." 



The advice we give as a principal means to 

 successful cultivation is to manure, but to manure 

 rationally, an undertaking quite distinct from the 

 mere indiscriminate use of artificial manures or 

 fertilisers ; it means, moreover, the application to 

 the soil of plant foods in a proper form, in a proper 

 manner, and in proper quantities, for if they are 

 used in excess, as much harm is possible as if the 

 plants had been underfed. 



Pineapple {Ananassa sativa, Natural Order, 

 Bromeliacese) is a hot-house (stove) plant in this 

 country. It grows in a compost of loam, decayed 

 manure, bones, and calcareous matter. 



The ashes of the pineapple contain in 100 

 parts : — 



