MANURING 53 



would probably reduce crops instead of increasing them. 

 It must not, however, be understood that no manure 

 should ever be applied to cacao, for that would be in 

 direct opposition to the principles and practice of agri- 

 cultural science, and could not be upheld, for when trees 

 show by their state of health that their natural food- 

 supply is exhausted, other supplies must assuredly be 

 furnished. 



The application of suitable manure to trees planted in 

 poor soil, to trees in weak health, and to trees which it is 

 desired should make a more than usual rapid growth to 

 serve some purpose of the cultivator, has the best effect ; 

 but the application of strong manures to trees in good 

 health and in average bearing would tend to encourage 

 rank and sappy growth which would be non-productive, 

 and loss of crop would result. A tree, like a horse, can do 

 more work when in " condition " and with less exertion 

 than it can if overfed and surfeited. 



Manure may with advantage be applied to a tree should 

 it be found that the plant has set itself more work to do 

 than it can efficiently carry out, i.e. by setting a larger 

 crop of fruit than usual. In such a case the application 

 would certainly be beneficial, and enable the tree to carry 

 a crop which, under ordinary circumstances and without 

 manure, it would not be able to ; but the application of 

 manure to a tree before the fruit is formed, or at any early 

 period of its growth, would probably result in inciting the 

 tree to produce a large amount of branch growth to the 

 detriment of the fruit, which would probably fall. No 

 one has yet been able by mere inspection to decide what 

 class or kind of manure should be applied, or the quantity 

 to apply to obtain best results, and this must therefore 

 be ascertained by experiment, assisted by analysis, but 

 cannot be determined by analysis of the soil alone. It 

 will be found quite impracticable to follow blindly the 

 advice of the " nitrate salesman," the " animal manure 

 drummer," the agent of a phosphate company, or of the 

 potash merchant, as before purchasing, it should first be 



