1 Ocr., 1897.] QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 323 
after it is converted into nitrates, and unless the nitrates can be made use of by plants 
uickly, heavy rains are likely to wash this valuable matter through the soil, and it is 
ost. Never apply nitrogenous manures, such as sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of 
soda, to an bestest before the trees are making growth in the spring, and then use it 
sparingly at a time. i i , : 
Tf sulphate of ammonia be used alone, time after time, as is sometimes the case, 
without potash or phosphate of lime, the results are not unlikely to be disastrous to 
an orchard. 
Nitrate of soda and nitrate of potash are so rarely used in the colonies, so far as 
T am aware, that I need not do more than say that the former is an extremely soluble 
nitrogenous manure, useful for dry soils in dry districts, where a nitrogenous 
chemical manure is needed, and that the latter is of value for potash as well as for 
nitrogen. ‘This is the well-known saltpetre, and is probably too expensive to use. 
Blood manure, dry, is frequently used in orchards. It is ciiefly valuable for 
the nitrogen it contains, and should be applied when that substance is required. It is 
not so quick in its action as sulphate of ammonia. s : 
Superphosphate of lime is, in the colonies, produced by dissolving bones in acid, 
and is of valus for phosphate alone. The phosphate in bones when treated with 
sulphuric acid becomes far more soluble and available as food for plants than that 
contained in bone dust. Orchardists should bear in mind that superphospate will 
need the addition of nitrogen and potash to make a complete manure. 
It is hardly necessary in this paper to refer to any other special manure 
except potash, which is of extreme importance to the orchardist, more so I think than 
is generally considered. ‘Tho chief form in which it is used is that known as kainit, 
a substance obtained in immense quantity in Germany. This contains about 14 to 15 
per cent. of potash. Kainit, as well as superphosphate, may be applied at any time 
to fruit trees, for they are not likely to be washed out by rains. The cheapest form 
in which potash can be obtained is in sulphate of potash, and it is far better than that 
obtained in kainit. These two manures can be obtained readily in Sydney, and E 
will just show the difference in value. Kainit, at present date (16th June, 1897), con-- 
taining 12} per cent. potash, is quoted at £4 10s. per ton in ton lots, or in three ton lots: 
£4, 5s.; and sulphate of potash, containing 50 per cent. potash, £14 for small parcels 
and £13 10s. in ton lots. I have already mentioned the very large percentage of 
otash extracted from the soil by all sorts of fruits. This shows how very necessary it 
is to provide a sufficient supply available for the requirements of fruit trees in full 
bearing. ‘This subject calls for special attention, and deserves better treatment than 
I can possibly afford time to devote to it. 
That very important substance, carbonate of, lime, although familiar to everyone, 
is by no means used as much as it deserves to be. Its action in the soil is to neutralise 
acidity, break up and make mellow heavy soil, consolidate sandy soil, assists in 
decomposing vegetable matter; and also the formation of nitrates ; and it also assists 
in making available for iood substances (chiefly potash) otherwise unavailable for- 
lants. Besides this it is of value, to some extent, as plant food. Great caution should: 
e observed in applying lime, that it be not applied to land which has but recently 
been manured with nitrogenous manures, for by its action valuable ammonia would 
be set free and much of it lost. Its application to farmyard manure would have the 
same effect. Sulphate of lime or gypsum on the contrary will have the opposite 
effect and fix the ammonia; and for this purpose it is advantageous to apply it to 
fermenting dung. 
At the orchard attached’'to the Hawkesbury Agricultural College, some little 
experiments have been made with manures with satisfactory results. The soil in this 
orchard is a poor-looking sand. 
Mr. J. L. Thompson, the principal, has supplied me with the following particulars. 
of the manuring :— 
“The fruit trees, more particularly the stone fruits, were manured three years 
ago with a little bone dust, not more than 4 or 5 lb. per tree. It was spread round 
the trees at a distance from the stems corresponding with the extent of the branches 
from the trunks. It was lightly forked in. The result was almost magical, the 
growth being very strong and healthy. Some of the bone dust was in fine particles 
and some of larger size, the fine dust giving up its manurial elements at once, and the 
larger sizes yielding theirs by degrees. A little lime was also supplied; a small 
shovelful to each tree was also scattered round the trees last year, ah very satisfac- 
tory results. A little kainit, containing a high percentage of potash, has also been 
applied experimentally at different times with the best possible results, our soil bein 
deficient in that constituent which is so essential to the healthy development of a 
fruit trees.” I may add to this that I sampled a good deal of the fruit—peaches 
chiefly—last season, and found it to be excellent. 
