The weekly mountain Democrat. [volume] (Placerville, El Dorado County, Calif.) 1861-1862, 1862-10-25

While farmers are willing to manure
their crops freely for the ANIMALS, still
they leave their orchards without any fer
tiliEing materials, forgetting that tree in
| place for q series Of years must necessari-
ly consume that kind Of pabulum necessa-
~ for its subsistence. Thus an apple
tree, the dry weight Of the leaves and bark
of which, after incarceration, contain 10 per
cent. Of lime, cannot be expected to -four
ish long, without additions Of lime. The
tree loses comparatively large quantities
Of this constituent every autumn, when
shedding its leaves; these are often car
led FROM the immediate vicinity by winds
and the lime is not therefore re.depOSited
in the soil within reach OF the roots Of the
tree whence the leaves emanated. This is
true of all the other inorganic constituents
of the leaves, and equally true Of all those
contained in the fruit itself hence the
necessity Of occasionally giving small do
SEES Of lime to apple trees. In addition I"
this, the other ingredients, however small
may be their prOportiO1s, are equally ne
cesSary to the production Of the best re-
suits. Wood ashes form an admirable
manure for fruit trees, for they contain an
infinite variety of alkaline and other pro
ducts, and in precisely the condition for
re-appropriatiOn by trees. The pear tree
requires additions of potash, and, in com
mon with other fruit trees, il also requires
| the entire range Of inorganic matters found
| by analysis in their ashes. PhoSphateS
and potash for the apple, slight quantities
of chlorine aud SOda for the ounce, plum,
w. r,,~s, w., >>>,>, rN,,, >NSSS>SSs<e
quantities of these two latter substances
tor the cherry; for if common salt be al
ded, but slightly in excess, the cherries
will exhibit SaltncSs in their taste the first
wear, aud the second the tree will die
Woods -earIb ava chip,mAnure are ADM
rahle fertilizers SCS S'92 Yves, for they
contain prOXimateS in precisely the right
degree Of progression to be re-appropria-
ted by fruits. An apple tree ne an old
J wood pile always tiouiiSheS well. Stimn.
hating manureS, and those subject to eX
ceNsive fermentation, such as the manurcS
of the stable, barn-yard and hog pen,
! should never come near fruit trees. They
cause an, unnatural growth, soft and i'm
perfect in texture. and incapable If stand.
/ ing our chaAgeS of climate. The bodies
of fruit trees require attention AS well as
their roots. M.SSrS and lichenS forming
on their surface should be removed by the
/ soda wash we have continually recon-
mendcd, made by diSSolving one pound of
/ sal soda. previously heated red.hot, to
drive off its carbOnic acid and render it
caustic, in one gallon Of water; thus it
will be found to be a saturated solution,
incapable of disSolying any more soda,
will destroy the cOcoons of insects, and
will cause the decomposition of loose bark,
so that the future growth Of the tree will
throw off these excrescencieS, leaving a
healthy and perfect surface, capable of
performing all the functions which the
surface of tree is called on to perform,
and not having its pores closed and its
functions deranged, as when the tree is
whte.washed in the ordinary way. Soda
is very much better as wash for the bod
les aud larger branches, than potaSh-for
the latter not only discrepancies the dead
portions, but attacks and derangcs the lis
Sues Of the live portions. We have yet to
find the first live plant which solution
Of soda will injurr, while vegetable matter
not containing the life principle is readily
decomrO>cd by its use. Working Farm