46 



THE MINIATURE FRUIT GARDEN". 



earth round each tree to sustain as much fruit as 

 ought to grow, for the object is to obtain a small pro- 

 lific tree. 



I find that in the course of years a perfect mass of 

 fibrous roots is formed, which only requires the annual 

 or biennial operation (the former if the tree be very 

 vigorous) of a trench being dug, and the ball of earth 

 heaved down to ascertain whether any large feeders 

 are making their escape from it, and to cut them off. 

 But it must be borne in mind that this circular mass 

 of soil will in a few years be exhausted ; to remedy 

 which, I have had left round each tree, eighteen 

 inches from the stem, a slight depression of the soil, 

 or, in other words, the trench has not been quite filled 

 in. This circular furrow I have had filled, in Decem- 

 ber and J anuary, with fresh liquid night soil, cover- 

 ing it with a coat of burnt earth two inches thick, 

 which has had a most excellent effect. Any other 

 liquid manure would undoubtedly have been equally 

 efficacious, but my soil was poor, and I thought it 

 required strong manure. As it did not come in con- 

 tact with the roots, no injury resulted from using such 

 a powerful raw manure. 



There is no absolute necessity for liquid manuring 

 in winter, as common dung may be laid round each 

 tree in autumn, and suffered to be washed in by the 

 rains in winter, and drawn in by the worms. In 

 mentioning liquid manure, I give the result of my 

 own practice. The great end to attain seems (to use 

 an agricultural phrase) to be able " to feed at home ;" 

 that is, to give the mass of spongioles enough nutri- 

 ment in a small space. A tree will then make shoots 



