ORCHARD AND GARDEN.

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume XV, Issue 213, 7 September 1880, Page 4

ORCHARD AND GARDEN.

It appears that sawdust can be used with advantage about fruit trees. Mixed with the soil, it enriches the latter, and plaoed on its surface it maintains moisture, and prevents the growth of many troublesome weeds, In vegetable gardens it also does very well, especially around CBbbago plants. Sawdust will rot as Boon as any other vegetable matter, according to tbe species of wood from which it originates. Mixed with the soil, it keeps the latter more mellow. An application of sawdust — say, three cartloads to the acre — during four years of the poorest land, and ploughing and cultivating same each year, will render it the most fertile. It is impossible for fruit trees to go on bearing year after year unless the soil about them ia enriched by the application of suitable fertilizers. There is no doubt that liberal allowances of manure to an orchard will improve wonderfully the yield of fruit. The manure can be Spread as far as the roots may reach, which will be about the same distance to which the branches extend. In regard to planting out treeß, tbe work should be deferred if tbe ground is very wet.