002 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



period root action is active, and the trees will get the full benefit of the 

 manure applied, whereas if it be put on in early winter many of the 

 manorial salts will be washed away by rain and snow. We are firm 

 believers in the combined use of phosphatic and potassic manures along 

 with natural farmyard or stable dung. 



4. " In a large area of fruit, is it not wise to apply special phosphatic 

 and potassic manure to the soil yearly, independently of all other 

 applications ?" 



If the trees are bearing good crops, by all means apply phosphatic and 

 potassic manures in conjunction with the natural. If the crop is light, 

 give potash and phosphates only. And if there be no crop at all give no 

 manure at all unless the growth of the tree is weakly and you desire to 

 stimulate wood -growth. 



On Artificial Manures. 



A Fellow writes : "I have been very much interested in the paper on 

 manuring market-garden crops in the last issue of the Journal. But, 

 while it gives exact directions as to the time for using nitrate of soda, it 

 is not equally precise as to the time when superphosphates, kainit, basic 

 slag, and sulphate of potash are to be applied. Supposing I wish to use 

 dung, superphosphates, and kainit for a crop, is it best (i.) to dig in all 

 three together in November or December, or is it better (ii.) to dig in the 

 dung in November and the chemical manure in February or March ; or 

 (iii.) dig in the dung in November and broadcast the chemicals directly 

 after and not dig in ; and (iv.) is it better to use the chemical manures in 

 • dry or wet weather, supposing they are broadcasted ? ' ' 



The first point to remember is the different nature of the manures. 

 Basic slag is a slowly-acting material, and hence requires applying early. 



Superphosphate and kainit both act more quickly, though if put in 

 the soil they are not readily removed from it and lost like nitrate of soda. 

 Superphosphate and kainit may be quite well used at the time of sowing, 

 or, where dung has already been ploughed in, they may be used later and 

 broadcasted. 



Basic slag is all the better for being applied quite early, say even 

 before the plant is sown. 



With some crops, such, for instance, as Potatos, where dung is used, 

 it is a good plan to put the dung in the furrows, and to sow superphosphate 

 and kainit along with it, depositing these on the dung, and then closing 

 over. The point to remember is, not to place artificial manures beyond 

 the reach of the plant. 



It is not well to sow these artificial manures in wet weather. 



In the case of nitrate of soda a dry day should be chosen, but if 

 shortly followed by rain so much the better. 



XlKSEUYMAN, AmATEUE, GARDENER, COTTAGER. 



Not a month passes without our being requested to explain the mean- 

 ing of one or other of the designations above, and it is a most difficult — 

 almost impossible — task. The strict meaning of the terms is probably 

 this :— 



