HOW TO INCREASE THE FRUITFULNESS OF ORCHARDS. 
340 
Mean Temp. 
Rain. 
r, 
81.5 
96 inches. 
19° 
79.25 
80 “ 
45° 
68. 
27$ “ 
60® 
38$ 
17 “ 
west of them, are entirely destitute of rain. Such 
countries are watered entirely by mountain streams, 
and by the dews, which are very heavy. The 
average quantity, in different latitudes, as stated by 
Humboldt, is as follows :— 
North Latitude, 
Water is absolutely necessary to the economy of 
vegetation in its elastic and fluid state, and also in 
its solid form. Snow and ice are bad conductors of 
heat; and when the ground is covered with snow, 
or the surface of the soil or of water is frozen, the 
roots or bulbs of the plants beneath are protected by 
the congealed water from the influence of the atmo¬ 
sphere, the temperature of which, in northern win¬ 
ters, is usually very much below the freezing 
point; and this water becomes, the first nourish¬ 
ment of the plant in early spring. 
Of Manures— Every species of matter capable 
of promoting the growth of vegetables, may be con¬ 
sidered as a manure. Decaying animal and vege¬ 
table substances constitute by far the most import¬ 
ant class of manures, or vegetable food. Vegetable 
and animal substances deposited in the soil, are 
consumed during the process of vegetation; and 
they can only nourish the plant by affording solid 
matters capable of being dissolved in water, or 
gaseous substances capable of being absorbed by 
the fluids in the leaves of vegetables. The great 
object, therefore, in the application of manure, 
should be to make it afford as much soluble matter 
as possible to the roots of the plants, and that in a 
slow and gradual manner, so that it may be entirely 
consumed in forming its sap and organized parts. 
Mucilaginous, gelatinous, saccharine, oily, and 
extractive fluids, are substances that in their un¬ 
changed states contain almost all the principles 
necessary for the life of plants; but there are few 
cases where they can be applied as manures in their 
pure forms. All green succulent plants contain 
saccharine, or mucilaginous matter, with woody 
fibre, and readily ferment. “They cannot, there¬ 
fore, if intended for manure, be used too soon after 
their death. Hence the advantage of plowing in 
green crops, whether natural or sown for the pur¬ 
pose; they must not, however, be turned in too 
deep, otherwise fermentation will be prevented by 
compression and exclusion of air. Green crops 
should be dug in, if it be possible, when in flower, 
or at the time the flower begins to appear; for it is 
at this period that they contain the largest quantity 
of easily soluble matter, and that their leaves are 
most active in forming nutritive matter. Yeast is 
one of the most powerful and durable of all ma¬ 
nures. Unfortunately the article is too expensive 
to be much used for this purpose, but it will well 
pay for a trial on fine plants. 
Fish forms a powerful manure, in whatever state 
it is applied; but it cannot be used too fresh, 
though the quantity should be limited. The skin 
of the fish is principally gelatine, which, from its 
slight state of cohesion, is readily soluble in water ; 
they contain also fat or oil, either under the skin or 
in some of the viscera, and their fibrous matter 
contains all the essential elements of vegetable 
substances. 
Bones are also much used. These are ground 
in a mill and applied to the land in the form of 
powder or dust. 
Sea-weed is much used on the sea-coast as a ma¬ 
nure. It is very transient in its effects; but is 
nevertheless of much value in situations where it 
can be obtained. The most common method of 
using it, is to convey it directly to the land, and 
apply it fresh as a top-dressing to the growing 
crops. If not applied in its recent state, it should 
be formed into a compost with dung, or with a 
mixture of that and earth. 
Peat is a substance which may be used as a ma¬ 
nure ; but unless freed of its acid principle it may 
remain for years exposed to water and air without 
undergoing decomposition, in which state it can 
afford no nourishment to plants. It should, there¬ 
fore, be made to undergo decomposition before it is 
applied to the soil. This may be done by long ex¬ 
posure to the air, or by mixing it with newly-made 
and completely slacked lime, which decomposes the 
woody fibres, and forms a kind of compost which 
is of some value. Amongst excrementitious solid 
substances used as manures, one of the most power¬ 
ful is the dung of birds that feed on animal food, 
particularly that of sea-birds. This guano which is 
used to a great extent in South America, and which 
has attracted much attention in this country for a 
few years past, is the manure that fertilizes the 
sterile plains of Peru. It exists abundantly in the 
small islands in the South Sea, and appears as a 
fine brown powder. 
Liquid manure, being the drainings of the stables, 
is a strong fertilizer. If applied to corn when 
sprouting or just before a rain, it has an effect 
which no other manure has. It destroys insects, 
and throws a surprising degree of vigor into the 
crops. 
The dung of horses, oxen, and cows, is found 
to contain matter soluble in water, and that it gives 
in fermentation nearly the same products as vege¬ 
table substances, absorbing oxygen, and producing 
carbonic acid gas. This should always be made to 
ferment in the soil, or should be formed into a com¬ 
post by the addition of one-half leafy mould. 
L. T. Talbot. 
How TO INCREASE THE FRUITFULNESS OF OR¬ 
CHARDS.^ Alkaline, or ammoniacal preparations, 
have been applied to young trees, as well as to old 
ones, for the purpose of stimulating their growth, 
and accelerating their fruitfulness, such as white¬ 
washing their trunks and branches, rubbing them 
with soap-suds, and spreading round their roots 
lime, gypsum, charcoal, soot, ashes, &c.; and 
“ human urine,” says Columella, “ which you 
have let grow old for six months, is well fitted for 
the shoots of young trees. If you apply it to vines, 
or to young apple-trees, there is nothing that 
contributes more to make them bear an abundance 
of fruit; nor does this only produce a greater in¬ 
crease, but it also improves "both the taste and flavor 
of the wine and of the apples.” 
