
MARCH. 89 
cleared a little higher, or even to the required height, if it has by that 
time made plenty of top. 
Treatment of Apple trees that have become unproductive.—In order 
to ascertain the cause of unproductiveness, the condition of the soil and 
subsoil, as regards moisture, should be first examined. If too much 
moisture is suspected, test holes should be dug as deep as the roots 
descend. If water remain stagnant in these holes, it is a sure indication 
that drainage is required ; and the beneficial effect of deep and thorough 
drainage on ill-thriving orchards, has in a few years proved astonishing. 
On the other hand, if the subsoil be found to be too dry, means should 
be adopted to render it completely moist. This should be done in 
March, and repeated during the summer, if found necessary. In order 
to ensure the water reaching the subsoil, several trenches about a foot 
wide should be dug out round thé trees, and as deep as can be done 
without injuring the upper roots. Such trenches, forming circles round 
the tree, may be three feet apart. They should be filled with water, 
and kept refilled till the subsoil is thoroughly moistened. If manure- 
water can be afforded, so much the better. 
If the subsoil is of bad quality, and the tree too old for removal, the 
roots may be uncovered, and a layer of compost of dung and loam placed 
over them. Jn this, young roots will form abundantly, to feed the tree 
with good nourishment. 
If unproductiveness arises from the poverty of the soil, a plentiful 
application of manure is of course necessary. Farm-yard manure, with 
a mixture of fresh loamy soil, is better than manure alone. 
When trees become unproductive in consequence of old age, and long 
bearing of heavy crops, the roots should be shortened, and fresh rich 
soil introduced for young fibres to strike into; then the tops should be 
considerably reduced by thinning and shortening. The shortened 
branches will very likely push some vigorous shoots. Let these shoots 
be cut back, at the winter pruning, to one-fourth of their length. From 
the portions left, more vigorous shooots will proceed, which may be 
shortened at the next winter pruning, to half their length, and at the 
same time some more of the old worn-out part of the top should be 
removed ; and thus the tree will be renovated, so as to be again in 
condition to bear good crops—Mr. Ropert THoMpson, in Journal 
of the Bath and West of England Society of Agriculture. 
HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Tue following are plants that have been submitted to the Floral Com- 
mittee of this Society, in 1859, and received First Class Certificates, 
except in the instances named as commended. 
VERBENAS. 
Dr. Sankey (Edmonds), average truss of large and finely formed pips, rosy puce, 
with lemon eye. Awarded First Class Certificate. 
Clara (Perry), fine form, colour pale peach, with lemon-coloured eye. Awarded 
Label of Commendation. 
