68 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



:March 7, 1908." 











:^^^. 



'//' 



WEST INDIAN FRUIT. 



CITRUS FRUITS IN CUBA. 



At the first annual nueLinc,^ (1907^ of the Cuban 

 National Horticultural Society, Mr. C. F. Austin read 

 a p.aper dealing with the varieties of citrus fruits 

 chieri} grown in Cuba. It was stated that inquiries 

 had been made from most of the leading fruit growers 

 in the island, and the information contained in the 

 paper was compiled by Mr. Austin with the help of the 

 answers received. 



Most of tlif vaiietiesdt (naiiycs liowu in Florida have also 

 been adopted iu Cuba, and many of them are largely planted. 

 Other kinds, however, are being raised as well, and in the 

 course of his paper, Mr. Austin .spoke iu favour of the native 

 (Juban oranges, whieh appear to be somewhat neglected by 

 grovifers. It was mentioned that a collection of the native 

 varieties was being made at the E.xperiment Stati 



a view to testing their merits in comparison 

 popular Florida and other varieties. 



Among oranges, Hart's "Late a])pears 

 which is being most extensively jjlantcd 

 Pineapjilc, Parson Urown, and W'ashingtiai 

 are also very popular. Harts Late, as 



with fhi 



with 

 more 



to he ihe kind 

 ill Culia. The 

 \a\rl varieties 

 its name implies, 

 is a late orange, as also is the Tine-apple, and f)oth varieties 

 can be reconunended to the attention of growers who 

 endeavour to meet the late .season market. The llavour ot 

 both kinds is excellent, but it was mentioned by Mr. Austin 

 that the I'lne-apjile is a variety which demands a good deal 

 of attention in <jrder to olitain the fiest results. 



Par.son lb-own is an early orange with rather a poor 

 flavour. It is a variety which needs care and attention, and 

 it is probable that more profitable kinds could be raiseil, e.g., 

 Boone's h^arly 



The Washington Navel orange is as yet in the experi- 

 mental stage in Cuba. It is an early variety, ]iroliHc, and 

 has a tine flavour, but <lonlits were expressed as to whether it 

 ■was suitable to C'ulia from the commercial point of view. 



The -latfa, .lo])pa, \'alencia, and King varieties of 

 oranges were all mentioned favonralily in the course of 

 Mr. Austin's paper. These are mid-season and late varieties. 

 The Fancy Tangerine has ai.so gained a very excellent re|>uta- 

 tion in Cuba. It is very in-olilic, has an excellent flavour, 

 a line colour, and can be grown almost to perfection wlieii 

 given due care. The Willow-leaved Mandarin, on the ■>tlier 

 hand, does not apfiear to he legardi'd so favourably. 



.\s the result of his inc|iuries Mr. Avrstin learned that 

 more or less of the following varieties of oiangcs have also 



been planted ; Centeiuiial, Enterprise, Homassa, and .Medium 

 Sweet. 



Pomelows or shaddocks, lemons, and limes also receive 

 a considerable amount of attention in Cuba, .\inong pome- 

 lows, the most popular kinds are those known as Walters,' 

 and ^larsli Seedless. 



ORANGE GrROWINQ IN NEW SOUTH 

 WALES. 



A correspondent from New South Wales, writing 

 to th(3 Journal of ilie Societij af Arts, gives some 

 account of the orange-growing industry in that colon}'. 



A trial slii]iment of oranges was recently desjiatched 

 from Sydney to luigland. The fruit arrived in a satisfactoi-y 

 state, although the prices obtained in this first instance did 

 not leave any profit to tlie consignors. It is hoped, however 

 that the cost of transimrt may in future be reduced. 



Orange growing is an extensive industry in the coastal 

 districts of New South Wales, but ui> to the present the 

 available markets have been linnted to tiio.se of Atistralia 

 and Xew /ealaial. In successful i)lantations the cultivation 

 is very thorough, the ground being periodically dug or 

 ploughed, and afterwards well tilled and harrowed. 



I'>(nie-dust, which is obtained from the meat-preservin" 

 factories of the Slate, is the principal fertilizer used, but 

 potash manures, superjihosphate, and sulphate of ammonia, 

 are freipiently apiilied by some orange growers, tlie .soil bein<' 

 as a rule shallow and not rich in fertilizing constituents. 

 It is stated, too, that nudchings of leaves and other vegetable 

 refuse are found to give excellent results, and when available 

 in sullicient i|nantity, satisfy all the manurial experiments 

 of the firange jilanlation. 



The liahia and the Valencia Late form the most promis- 

 ing varieties of .. ranges grown. Owing to the suitable 

 sea.son of ri|ieniiig, hopes are being entertained anions 

 growers that a market may be found for the latter variety in 

 the United States. 



The (iovernmentj.of New South Wales is endoavourin" to 

 encourage the orange industry by every means in its power, 

 notably by experiments conducted on Oovernment farms and 

 l)y the employment of experts as tra\elling lecturers and 

 demonstrators in pruning, budding, and grafting. 



It may be mentioned too, that the manufacture and 

 export of marmalade, ^ subsidiary industry de[icndent upon 

 orange cultivation, Jias latterly come into existence in 

 Xe\v South Wales, and a market for this product has been 

 found in South .\frica an<l the far East. 



