Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-10-13
VOL. xLvTII, NO 4e.~wHoLE NO. 25o4.

best late pear. So it is, also, in
some Of the soils Of Belgium while
with others, and with us, il is gener-
ally inferior.
The flavor of frui, is much infu-
enced not only by soil, but also by
climatic and meteorological agents.
Thus, in cold, wet and undrained
soil, disease commences in the root
and, as natural consequence, the
Juices of the tree are imperfectIy
elaborated, and unable to supply the
esigency Of the fruit. Even injurious
substances are taken up. A plum
tree has been known to absorb oxide
Of iron, so as not only 10 color the
foliage, but also to exude and form
incrustations on the bark, and finally
TO kill the tree. As an instance of
climatic agency, it is sufficient to re-
port the fact, that out of fifty varie-
ties Of American peaches grown in
the gardens at Chiswick, England,
only two were adapted to the eli
mate.
Fertilizers of Fruit Trees.
All ngree that certain substances
exist in plants and trees, and that
these must be contained in the soil
to produce growth, elaboration and
perfection. TO supply these, some
advocate the use OF what are termed
special manures others ridicule the
idea. We submit whether this is
not difference in language, rather
than in principle for by special fer
tllizers the first mean simply those
which correspond with the conslilu-
ents of the crop. But are not the
second careful to select and apply
manures which contain those ele-
ments and do they not in practice,
afiix the seal Of their appreciation to
the theory which they opposei Ex-
plode this doctrine and do you not
destroy the principle Of manuring,
and the necessity of rotation Of
crops 7 Trees exhaust the soil Of
certain ingredients, and like animals
must have their appropriate iood.-
All know how difficult it is 10 make
fruit tree flourish on the spot from
which an old tree Of the same spe-
cies has ieen removed.
The great practical question now
acitating the community is-how
shall we ascertain what fertilzing
elements are appropriate TO species
of vegetation ? To this, two replies
are rendered. Some say, analyze
the crop; others, the soil. Each,
we think, maintains a truth and
both together, nearly the whole
truth. We need the analysis OF the
crop to teach us its ingredients, and
that of the soil to ascertain whether
il contains those Ingredients and il
it does not, what fertilizers must be
applied TO supply them. Thus, by
analysis, we learn that nearly one
quarter part Of the constituents of
the pear, the grape, and the straw
berry consist Of potash. This
abounds in new soils, and peculiarly
adapts them TO the productions Of
these fruits, but having been extract
ed from soils long under cultivation,
il is supplied by woodashes or potash.
the value Of which has of late greatly
increased in the estimation Of cult
vators.
Among the arts of modern cuIiiya-
ton, universal experience attests to
the great advantage Of mulching
the soil around fruit trees, as means
of fertilization and of preservation
from drought in heat so common
with US in midsummer. In illustra-
ton Of this, experiment has proved
that on dry soils, where the earth has
been strown with straw, the crops
have been as large without manure,
as with it, where evaporation has dis
engaged the iertilzins elements Of
the soil.