1876, ] 
LIQUID MANURE FOR CARNATIONS, PICOTEES, ETC. 
173 
fearlessly, seeing that we elect the best and most vigorous fruits for the crop. 
With such symptoms to guide us, our election of a crop and the tree’s election 
are likely to prove identical. The early thinner is very apt to leave the fruits 
that the tree has already elected to cast off. This is one of the most provoking 
contretemps that can happen. The risk of it is reduced to nil by late thinning. 
The practical eye sees the election of the tree at a glance, and acts accordingly. 
But of course, all the fruit taken on by the tree is not left. If so, the 
thinner’s occupation would be gone. Trees left to themselves sometimes hardly 
thin their fruits at all. At others, they thin them too much. The cultivator 
should thin to a happy mean, neither too much nor too little. 
As a matter Cf fact, few thin sufficiently. No mechanical rules can very well 
be laid down, and if they were, there is no power to enforce them. Much also 
depends on the health and strength of trees. Some can hardly be overburdened, 
provided the fruits have room to swell; others are so weakly, that a very thin 
crop is more than enough for their powers. 
Apricots and Cherries seem to suffer least among stone-fruits by overcropping, 
Plunis^ Peaches^ Nectarines far more. But it is not provident culture to overcrop 
the former ; a moderate crop pays best, and is the most likely to be repeated. 
From 6 in. to 1 ft. apart has been laid down as a good distance for the latter, and 
if the fruits are well grown, this leaves but a small space between them. As far 
as possible, too, the crop should be uniform over the entire tree. Should, how¬ 
ever, growth be irregular, the heaviest crop should be left on the strongest 
branches, and the vertical shoots near the middle of the tree may have the 
heaviest crop. The cultivator may do much in this way to equalise growth, by 
wisely and well distributing or regulating the drain upon it by judicious thinning. 
In determining the extent of thinning in this connection, a safe rule is to appor¬ 
tion the load to the back, the strongest trees to have the heaviest load, and vice 
versa. — D. T. Fish, HardwicJce. 
LIQUID MANURE FOR CARNATIONS, PICOTEES, Etc. 
S the season when it is desirable to use some stimulant to aid the 
development of a fine bloom of Carnations and Picotees should not pass 
without its lesson, the relation of an experience of upwards of twenty 
years, after testing most of the substances used for the purpose, may be 
of service. I record them in the order in which they were used. 
(1.) When I commenced to grow Carnations and Picotees, some 26 years 
ago, I used horse-droppings, filling a tub three-parts full, and completing the 
.measure with water. This I used in the proportion of one quart of the liquid 
to a gallon of water, watering alternately with it and pure water. My experience 
led to its prompt discontinuance, as, though it promoted strong growth in the 
plant, its effects upon the flower were most unfortunate. My notes say, “ Liquid 
manure, from horse-droppings, plants strong ; flowers, Carnations muddy in the 
white, Picotees very much barred.” Possibly the sea'^^on, which was very wet. 
may have had some influence. 
