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MANURES FOR FRUIT TREES.

The time and means of applying stimulants to fruit trees are subjects deserving of more careful consideration than is often bestowed upon them, as without artificial aid of this nature good and continuous crops of fruit cannot be secured ; whereas, if, on the other hand, they are wrongly applied, injury will follow. There are hungry soils and rich soils; some that are called warm, others cold, and others with various characteristics, all requiring different treatment in the application of stimulants. Some soils seem capable of swallowing up any -quantity of food at whatever season it ia applied, when others would be soured and poisoned if treated in a like manner. The nature of the soil should not, however,: alone rule the supply of stimulants, as the condition of the roots is as much, if not more to be considered. The mere application of a certain kind of manure, although its beneficial effect will soon be manifest if the roots are all right, is not sufficient of itself to produce crops' of'fruit if these members are disorganised and diseased. Therefore, stimulants should not be regarded, as they sometimes are, as a panacea for all evils. Considering, then, that manures in some form or other are desirable to the production of satisfactory crops, when ought they to be used to obtain the best results? Trees: that are inclined to produce fruit instead' of growth depend in a great measure for their continuance in this state upon artificial aid and its mode of application because;' if erratically and injudiciously applied, the even balance between fruiting and 'growingmay be again disturbed; whereas neglect- of feeding will result in shabby r and Worthless fruit. Such trees, when growing in a naturally light and ix»or soil may, receive liberal supplies of; both eolid and liquid manure at all seasons : of the year, whilst if growing.upon a heavy «oil-the-supply should be limited to; ■thjeir period of growth. In the former case, what I should consider a good course of treatment in this particular for the year i would be—commencing when..the fruit has all been, gathered—is If the soil •is then dry, to give it a good soaking with clear water; zo be followed in a few days with one of. liquid manure, which may be again, repeated in the course of a fortnight. , ■, . .■ :

When the trees are dormant a pood dressing of manure from the farmyard; should be Riven immediately over the; roots after these have been bared, returning the soil again upon the manure., If a stronger fertiliser, each as fowls' manure, is used, it is safer to mix It with the soil before applying it. This should suffice; until the fruits commence swelling, when further assistance 13 needed. The grower is often puzzled to kuow which to select of; the many stimulants that are now recommended, from the tnmple drainings of the manure heap to highly concentrated sulphafce'of ammonia. As a rule, however, it is well to avoid highly concentrated and. quick acting manures; they are safe only; in the hands of the most experienced. I would also advise a cautious use of all artificial fertilisers until their strength and nature have been proved upon a small scale. Soot, chough 'less expensive, , Is, nevertheless,, a very valuable manure., A mulching of rich farmyard manure is an excellent .stimtiJant daring the growing season, and : liquid manure made from the name material la one of the most,generally used. Two points shouldf- however, be always > observed when applying the latter, namely, to use it in a clear state and well diluted. If at all thick it dogs the border} and when too strong the roots are liable to injury. Over-feeding is aa evil at all times to be carefully-avoided, notwithstanding it is an error many fall into fn the anxiety 1 to obtain size. Not only does it impair the flavour at the fruit, but produces grosaness, engendering' disease- and - decay. Liquid mannre should not be applied when: the soil is dry, as the roots then absorb too much ; it should follow, in a day or two, an application of clear water.

Where the soil is of a retentive nature, I prefer dispensing with mulchin.s;e to a great extent, and depending more upon liquid manure and stimulants which can be sprinkled upon the surface and washed in, because in treating heavy soils it is well to avoid the use of any material tending to clog the surface. Therefore winter dressings of manure are replaced by rootproducing materials, such as charred refuse, crushed bones, Sec; neither would I mulch heavily in summer on such soils, unless for the purpose of checking evaporation during a time of drought.' - '■'■>

Where trees, however, show signs of weakness and disease a cautious use. of stimulants is to be preferred; in fact,in some soils their use only aggravates the evil they are intended to disperse, and they are dispensed with .altogether/ frith the! .exception of those of alow action, until health has been restored by means of a renewal of the soil, draining, &c., as may be required. When weakness -is the result of exhaustion and the trees in other respects present a healthy appearance, mild stimulating manures will, of coarse, prove very but they should be applied with moderation at first, afterwards increasing their strength and balk as the trees exhibit signs of improvement. In the case of trees of 'vigorous habit, greater care is perhaps requisite in applying stimulants. I fear nurserymen cannot always be absolved from blame in the matter of exciting at too rapid a rate the growth of their young fruit trees. Young trees furnished with stout shining shoots do not often make the best progress after being transplanted, because their vessels having been overcharged, in the!; production, they are not so well prepared as those of a more solid though less vigorous growth to withstand the shock of transplanting. The trees may appear to greater advantage in the nursery quarter, bat, judging by the start they will make after removal, those of more moderate and natural growth are the best. It mast not be inferred that I prefer* stunted plant, which I look upon with equal disfavour, the one being as obstinate to start into healthy growth as the other. Trees of vigorous constitution must be allowed to reach a fruitful state unaided by manure of any kind, and this they will in time do if not restricted too severely.— A. Barker, in the Garden. — -

Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/CHP18890620.2.5

Bibliographic details

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7341, 20 June 1889, Page 2

Word Count
1,081

MANURES FOR FRUIT TREES. Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7341, 20 June 1889, Page 2

MANURES FOR FRUIT TREES. Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7341, 20 June 1889, Page 2

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