Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1848-04-14
AnrtruIturaI.

The Horticulturist, for March, has an
article on Special Manures for Fruit Trees,
from which we make the following extract
For old apple orchards, upon soil def
cient in lime, we would recommend top
dressing Of lime-for the first time--of two
hundred bushels TO the acre. This will,
usually, if the land is in good condition,
bring the trees in good bearing condition
again. In some soils the effect will be inn
mediate, and in others il will require one or
two seasons for the lime to produce its el.
feet.
For middesized bearing trees, a peck of
air-sackened lime to each tree is sufficient
1t is. perhaps, best applied in the autumn,
but ii will answer very well in the spring.
Scatter it evenly over the surface of the
ground, as far as the roots extend. 1t may
be ploughed or hoed under slightly, or left
upon the surface, as it will find its way
downwards in the soil.
To keep an apple orchard in the fruit
bearing condition, in soil not calcareous,
and not naturally congenial TO the tree, it
should be dressed with limo, and with ashes,
every alternate autumn, and MANFRED every
other spring The same quantity Of spent
ashes as of lime may be used for each tree.
For the pear tree, we prefer the following
cOmposts; take wagon load Of peat, or
black, swamp earth-dissolye twenty pounds
of potash in water, and water the peat thor.
oughly with the liquid. Let it lie couple
of days, and ii is fit for use. Or, for the
same quantity of peat, use one third OF a
load of leached wood ashes, Tor ten bushels
Of fresh ashes) mixing the whole, and let
ting it lie fortnight before using it. Give
each middle sized bearing pear tree bush.
ell OF this compost annually; newly plant
ed young tree, half peck, and others in
this proportion. If this compost is applied
in the spring. the trees may also have top
dressing of bone dust, If easily obtained, in
the autumn, at the rate Of half a peck to
tree.
The same compost, and the same guam
titles, will answer admirably for the grape
vine. But as the grape is a strong feeder,
and likes more lime than the pear, we would
give it, besides an autumnal coat OF lime,
at the rate Of from fifty to one hundred
bushels 10 the acre, applied along with any
manure or compost most easily obtained.
For the plum tree, in light soils, (lhere
is no difficulty in growing it in clay Soils
we would recommend a compost made as
follows to two wagon loads of strong
loan, or yellow clay, add bushel Of cheap
salt, and four bushels Of lime. Mix the
whole thoroughly; suffering it to lie at
least fortnight. Apply this as a top layer
or top dressing 10 the soil directly under
plum trees, spreading it over the surface as
far as the branches extend) at the rate Of
two bushels to middle sized bearing tree,
or half peck to a young, newly planted
tree.
As a general compost for fruit trees, we
repeat that nothing is equal to that formed
Of ashes and peat These materials are ca
silly obtained in all parts Of the country, and
they contain the elements most essential in
the organic and inorganic structure Of fruit
trees. Where peat is not at hand, use wood
ashes alone, at the rate Of half bushel Of
leached ashes 10 each middle sized bearing
fruit tree. But as ashes furnish only the
mineral or inorganic elements Of food. the
usual supply OF ordinary manure must not
be withheld, unless the soil is already suifi-
ciently rich.