June 8. 
THE COTTAGE GARDENER. 
171 
Let it be remembered, as a general rule in applying 
Sea Weeds as a manure, that they cannot be applied too 
fresh. The best mode is to collect them into small 
heaps whilst in a growing state, allowing these to drain 
for one day, and then to dig the weeds in. If there is 
no crop requiring immediate planting, or sowing, dig 
them in on any vacant space. The reason for this is 
that they decompose more rapidly than most plants, 
and in decomposing lose the whole of their nitrogeue, 
or ammoniacal constituent, unless this is retained by 
the soil. 
No manure more promotes the growth of fine crops 
of Brocoli, and, indeed, of all the Cabbage-worts, than 
do Sea Weeds. They should be applied at the rate of 
about one barrow-load to twenty square yards ; and the 
best time for turning them into the ground is just 
before planting. 
They are the best of dressings for Asparagus and Sea- 
kale beds; the surface to the depth of two inches being 
first drawn off with a hoe, the Sea-weeds put on about 
the same depth, and then the surface earth re-spread 
over them. The finest Asparagus we ever saw had 
this dressing at the end of autumn, and liquid-manure 
during the spring and summer twice a-week. 
As a mulching over the roots of fruit-trees, whether 
standards or against a wall, Sea-weeds are most bene¬ 
ficial. The surface earth should be removed as from 
the Asparagus beds, the mulching applied two inches 
thick, and covered over with the earth previously re¬ 
moved. Two such mulchings are not too much, one 
applied in February and the other in July. 
As a manure for Potatoes, Sea-weeds have long been 
used very extensively both in Scotland and Ireland; and 
we have abundant testimony in their favour both for 
that crop, for Wheat, and as an early top-dressing for 
Grass. The consumption of them in Ireland, now that 
steamboats and railways facilitate carriage, is annually 
on the increase, even in the inland districts. This year 
the demand is more than usually great, as may be 
judged from the following information relative to only 
one district:—“ The great demand for Sea-weed manure, 
the high prices it brought, and the great breadth of 
ground devoted to potato-planting this spring, may be 
inierred from the fact, that it is computed by those who 
have had the best opportunities of forming an accurate 
estimate, that the very large sum of <£10,000 has been 
paid for Sea-weed this season at the Galway docks alone. 
If we take into account the quantities which have been 
disposed of at Oranmore, Kinvarra, Ballyvaughan, 
Barnas, and the other creeks and landing-places within 
the bay, the cutting of Sea-weed this season must have 
realised upwards of £1 3,000. It has been conveyed to 
a considerable distance, by boats along the lakes, by 
carts on the road, and even by railway. Perhaps, in no 
former year has the use of it been more general, or the 
price paid for it so high, as in the present season.” 
MANAGEMENT OF YOUNG FRUIT-TREES. 
As many amateurs and others appear desirous of 
knowing how to proceed in the rearing and training of 
young trees, it will be well to devote a chapter, occa¬ 
sionally, to their guidance. It is impossible, in a peri¬ 
odical work of this kind, to stick close to one subject 
long, for however well it may suit one class of readers, 
others very speedily importune for information of 
another description ; however, we must try to please all 
by turns. 
Young fruit-trees, the second or third year after plant¬ 
ing, are apt to become too gross, whilst during the first 
year, especially if spring-planted, they make but slow 
advances; both these cases are capable of correction, 
and require it. It becomes necessary, also, to establish 
a course of training betimes, and this involves some 
disbudding, stopping, &c. I will endeavour, briefly, 
to point to each of these, as specially concerns young 
trees, first premising, that as modes of training are so 
various, I must, at present, point to cultural principles, 
rather than modes in detail. 
As to young trees recently planted, I should hope that 
mulching has been attended to, if not, and they are 
not growing rapidly, let it by all means be done im¬ 
mediately. Our readers must consider that such trees 
are in a somewhat defenceless state, as compared to 
established trees; they are more susceptible of droughts, 
from the circumstance of their shallow roots; that is to 
say, if they have been planted near the surface, as they 
ought to have been. The mulching for these should be 
good, and may be spread nearly three inches in thick¬ 
ness, aud if water is requisite, by all means let it be 
applied immediately; if of the temperature of ninety 
dogrees, all the better. It should be applied from the 
rose of a watering-pot. 
In order to give young trees a bold start, it matters 
not of what kind, there must be a perfect immunity 
from insects. If this be requisite with older trees, it is 
doubly so here, for on the first two years growth of 
young trees depends their ultimate aptitude for training, 
and their symmetry of appearance, and, wc may add, 
their speedy enlargement or extension. As to the 
latter, it consists rather in a free and continuous growth 
than in a luxuriant one; although I have no great ob¬ 
jection to the latter, providing the pinching system is 
resorted to in a judicious way. 
Insects are so easily subdued in young trees, ap¬ 
pliances of any kind being of so economic a character, 
that no possible excuse can exist for neglect on this 
, head. Any caterpillars may be hand-picked, and killed, 
and as for the aphides, red spider, &c., why tobacco-water 
may be used to dip the points of the shoots in. Three 
ounces of shag tobacco, or about nine-pennyworth, will 
| make half-a-gallon of such liquor as will render them 
incapable of further mischief. A sulphur puff may be 
used to the young shoots, or hand shaking, taking care 
that the sulphur is finely divided. 
And now, as to the “pinching” or “stopping” 
system. Those of our readers who have not whistled 
at the spade, will very naturally feel desirous to know 
which shoots should be pinched; where the pinching 
must stop ; and when, and the reasons for it. As I do 
not wish to keep any secrets, as friend Donald Beaton 
says, neither being tame enough to try half a question, 
I feel bound to state here how these matters stand. The 
first thing to be understood with regard to stopping is 
this: What is over luxuriance; and what are its evil 
tendencies ? 
We will take the case of a young and gross Apricot, . 
such as may be frequently seen in nurseries, when the 
biulded-stock in high vigour pushes forth a shoot in | 
June, speedily inclined to burst into side spray. And j 
why not, somebody will say ? And I readily echo, Why J 
