NOTES ON MANURING , &c. 



Ill 



NOTES ON MANURING, &c. 



It, is a mistake to give young trees heavy dressings of manure, as the 

 ordinary soil of gardens is rich enough. For the first few years aim at 

 laying the foundation of a good tree ; keep the boughs rather thin, i.e. 

 well apart, not crowded, in order that the leaves may be fully exposed to 

 sun and air, so as to ripen the wood, and thus form a sturdy basis for 

 future good crops. Some varieties will bear the second year, and may 

 then be assisted by manure laid. on the surface after the fruit is well set, 

 or by waterings of liquid manure, or soapy water, &c, in summer, but 

 fruit trees, young or old, if they are growing and healthy, should only 

 have manure applied when they are bearing a crop, so as to enable them 

 to bring the year's fruit to perfection, and at the same time form fresh 

 blossom buds for next year. When trees make only 3 to 6 inches of 

 extension growth they need generous support ; if 6 to 12 inches, give 

 moderate assistance ; if 12 to 18 inches, give no manure. If a bush tree 

 makes very gross growth with few or no fruit buds do not cut back all 

 the gross shoots severely, but thin them well out in summer, and in 

 autumn dig well down and shorten the strong roots by root-pruning ; 

 standards should never be root-pruned. It is a bad thing to dig 

 amongst fruit trees with a spade, as it injures the small fibrous roots 

 which ought to be encouraged to increase near the surface. These 

 small surface (essentially fruit-producing) roots are greatly injured 

 either by digging [but not by hoeing — see (x)J or by extreme dryness of 

 soil. Spreading a covering of farmyard manure over the surface as 

 far as the roots extend, on the first approach of hot weather, cannot be 

 too highly advised ; but heavy coatings of dung during March, April, 

 and most of May are injurious, as they exclude the sun's warmth, which 

 is then so much needed to promote healthy root action. 



ARTIFICIAL MANURE. 



All fruit trees and bushes needing support will be benefited by an 

 application of 4 ozs. of basic slag and 1 oz. of kainit per square yard, 

 as far as the roots extend, in the autumn ; followed by 2 ozs. of super- 

 phosphate and 1 oz. of sulphate of ammonia in February or March. 

 There will then be conveyed to the soil lime, phosphates, potash, 

 nitrogen, magnesia, and a little iron. In chalky soils or dry "hot " 

 land, nitrate of soda may be used instead of sulphate of ammonia, but 

 a little later, or when the blossom buds are expanding, another dressing 

 may follow if trees are heavily set with fruit. These dressings may be 

 increased somewhat or diminished according to the condition of the 

 trees. It is of small use applying the two first-named minerals — basic 

 slag and kainit — late in the spring, as they are not dissolved in time for 

 appropriation by the roots during the current season. 



Soot, and wood or bonfire ashes, spread over the surface with a little 

 lime form an excellent manure for Apples — indeed, for all fruit trees. 



