CHAPTER VII 



MANURES FOR PRTJIT TREES 



" The weakest kind of fruit 

 Drops earliest to the ground." — Shakespeare. 



" As sickly plants betray a niggard earth, 

 Whose barren bosom starves her generous birth, 

 Nor genial warmth, nor genial juice retains 

 Their roots to feed, and fill their verdant veins." 



— Thomas Gray. 



A THOROUGH knowledge of the art of manuring 

 is a powerful auxiliary in the hands of the fruit 

 grower. Fruit trees require manures as well as 

 pruning, and each tree or shrub requires its own 

 particular manures. One manure will not suit all 

 soils and trees — both vary considerably, as the last 

 two chapters have undoubtedly demonstrated, and 

 the wise cultivator will act accordingly. 



Apples. There are 1,545 varieties in cultiva- 

 tion ; and although the apple thrives best in deep 

 rich loam, certain varieties prefer heavy soils,^ 



' Ecklinville seedliag. 



