Manuring the Orchard.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 419, 19 October 1889, Page 4

Manuring the Orchard.

That the orchard sholud be kept well manured is at the present time very generally admitted ; but what is the cheapest and best material to apply is as yet unsettled. Those who have had an opportunity to test the different fertilisers are, as a rule, opposed to the application of large quantities of fresh stable manure, especially to the pear 01 chard, but if such manure is to be applied it should be applied in the autumn. That bearing trees consume considerable quantities of both phosphates and potash is conceded by all, and that the application of large quantities of manure rich m nitrogen is not only not necessary, but positively injurious is the opinion of some very intelligent orchardists. We have seen orchards very much improved by applying wood ashes in considerable quantities, but not as much as when fertilised with a moderate quantity of ground bone, which would seem to imply that the phosphate is needed the most. Some ovchardists apply ground bone and wood ashes, or muriate of potash mixed, with good success, 50 bushels of ashes, and 1000 pounds of ground bone, makes a very liberal dressing for an acre of land, and ( will last a number of years. When wood ashes cannot be obtained, 500 pounds of muriate of potash may be used in its place. When barn manure is to be used, if only half the usual quantity be applied, and the same value of ground bone be applied with it, the result will be much more satisfactory, than if all manure be applied. When an orchard gets grown to near its full size, it is not so desirable that materials should be applied to force the growth of the wood, as it is to force the growth of the fruit ; this is a fact that ought not to be lost sight of. An orchard just set, will | bear more nitrogen and potash than the orchard that is fully grown. In applying fertilizers to an orchard, it should be spread over the entire surface of the ground, and not applied, as some do, only a few feet from the tree. The feeding roots of a tree are at the small ends of the roots, more than at the large ends near the tree, and they are also very near the surface, where the land is not ploughed every year, therefore, whatever fertilizer is applied Bhould be spread evenly over the surface, and left but a few inches under it, then the feeding roots will easily reach it.