386 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



December 



1914. 



FRUIT AND FRUIT TREES. 



ORANGE GRAFTINa. 



In discussing the top working of orange trees in the 

 (Jiieensland A (jri cultural Journal, September 1914, Mr. 

 Charles Ross, F.R.H.S., Instructor in Fruit Culture, notes 

 that in almost every orange grove there are individuals, lioth 

 amongst seedling and grafted trees, that do not come up to 

 expectations. Some are consistently poor croppers; others, 

 though very prolific, bear fruit of indifterent quality; in other 

 cases the form of the tree is undesirable. To bring such 

 trees into good condition in the shortest time he advises two 

 metlioils of top working. One is by liudding into the old 

 stems, and the other by cleft-grafting. 



The possessors of orange trees in the West Indies meet 

 with the same Icinds of disappointing trees as are noticed in 

 Queensland. The usual plan adojjted here to improve the 

 condition of such a tree, is to saw oti' the head Vielow the first 

 fork, and then to bud a good variety on to the shoots that 

 arise from the decapitated stump. This process is generally 

 successful; but it takes time, as the new shoots require at 

 least a year before they are fit to receive the liuds. It might 

 be interesting, and pebhaps profitable to W^est Indian growers 

 of orange trees, to experiment with their unsatisfactory 

 .specimens on the lines advocated by Mr. Ross. 



He recommends that the top of the tree be cut off over 

 the second or third forks. If budding is the method to be 

 employed, the following abstract from Professor Hume's book. 

 Citrus Fruits and their Culture, ought to lie followed. 



When an attempt is made to insert buds in old stems by 

 the shield method with a T incision, it is usually found that 

 the bark, being thick and brittle, generally breaks off or 

 cracks. To avoid this, make a curved incision in the bark, 

 like either side of a parenthesis, thus — ( ). Use angular bud 

 Avood, so that when the btid is cut off, it is either to the right 

 or left of the .shield, instead of in the centre. The curved 

 incision is then made either to the right or left to suit the 

 position of the bud on the shield. The bark may then be 

 carefully lifted, and the shield inserted and tied, leaving the 

 bud out at the side of the curve. 



Cleft-grafthig is hardly resoi'ted to at all in the West 

 Indies, yet Mr. Ross has found' it to be the best method in 

 Queensland. It might therefore be well worth while making 

 experiments as to its practicability in these islands. An 

 abstract of the instructions with regard to this process, in 

 Professor Hume's book already mentioned, is here given. 



Cleft-grafting will be found useful in working large 

 trunks or branches. The stock is cut off' at right angles, and 

 the cut surface is made perfectly smooth. It must be split 

 or cleft open either by the knife, or grafting iron and mallet. 

 As the line of cleavage in orange wooil is very irregular, it is 

 best to drive the knife or iron in on the side of the stock 

 before splitting it, so as to leave a smooth, straight surface 

 for the scion. The cleft may lie held open by inserting 

 a wooden wedge. The scions should be 4 or 5 inches in 

 length, and should have three or four buds. Trim the lower 

 end of the scion in the shape of a wedge 1 }, inches, with the 

 outer edge a little wider than the inner. Slip the cut end of 

 the scion down the cleft until the whole cut surface is within 



the cleft. The thicker> edge should be outside so that the 

 cambium edges of stock and scion may be brought movn 

 intimately into contaci by pressure. If the stock be large, 

 two scions may be inserted, one on either side of the cleft. 

 When the scion has been inserted, it is firmly bound in with 

 strips of waxed cloth, and the upper surface of the stock, as 

 well as the top of the scion, if cut, should be covered over 

 with grafting wax to prevent loss of moisture. 



No further attention is required until the first signs of 

 growth are shown by the scion; then the bandage is cut <)n 

 the side of the stock opposite to it; or, in the case of two 

 scions, in the space lietween them. The growing scion should 

 be supported by a slat tied on to the stock. 



in hot, dry climates, the removal of the sheltering 

 foliage exposes the trunk and branches to the full heat 

 of the sun, which may result in serious injury to the exposed 

 parts. A satisfactory protection can be afforded by a thin 

 coating of white wash, applied with a spray pump. 



SWEET OR SOUR ORANGES. 



The advantage to exporters of fruit uf maintaining 

 a uniform standard in their produce shipped has been often 

 pointed out in the pages of the Aijricultural Netrs. The 

 Legislature of Florida passed a law on .June 1.?, 191.3, with 

 regard to citrus fruits, which will apparently guarantee to 

 the purchasers of Flririda products, rijje and sweet oranges 

 and grape-fruit. 



The Miiulldy Bulletin of the California State Commis- 

 sion of Horticulture refers to this law with approval, 

 declaring that its general beneficial result to the Florida grow- 

 ers will be apparent to anyone who will compare the prices 

 received for California and Florida oranges during the last 

 Christmas season. 



This law provides that from September 1 to November 5 

 of each year, all oranges or grape-fruit that are green in 

 colour while on the tree, or when detached from the tree 

 previous to the time of inspection, shall be considered 

 immature, and subject to the 'acid test'. During the same 

 yearlj' period, all oranges or grajje-fruit 'showing an average 

 on the trees of one-half yellow colour indicating ripeness,' or 

 showing the same average when detached from the tree not 

 more than forty-eight hours previotis to the time of ins|)ec- 

 tion, shall be considered mature, and not subject to the acid 

 test. It also defines as 'adulterated', and subject to the 

 acid test, any fruit \\:hich have been 'artificially coloured' by 

 holding in a warm moist atmosphere for a short period after 

 removal from the tree. 



The law describes the acid test, and sets the following 

 limits: t)i-anges whose juice contains more than 1'.30 per 

 cent, of acid (citric) shall be considered immature. Grape- 

 fruit whose juice contains more than 1'75 per cent, of acid 

 (citric) shall be considered immature. 



Fruit inspectors are directed to take samples and make 

 tests. Any lot of fruit found to be adulterated within the 

 meaning of the law is to be .seized and placed in custody, 

 subject to the orderjOf the Commissioner of Agriculture. 



The law also provides for the official testing of samples 

 presented by growers for the purpose of ascertaining the 

 condition of their fruit. 



The irresponsible shipping of immature fruit has probal> 

 ly been one of the chief causes of the comparative failure in 

 the development of the fruit trade of the \\'est Indie.s, 

 Apart from any legislative enactment, it would probably be 

 to the great advantage of exporters of fruit to subject their 

 produce to an acid test. The working of the test is simple, 

 and the oHicials of the Agricultural Departments in the 

 various islands might apjily it. 



