OF SO UTHERN CALIFORNIA. 455 



than is now done to keep up with the growth of population in the 

 United States and tlie Canadas. 



These being the conditions and prospects of tliis great industry, 

 the question for discussion this evening naturally arises to those 

 desiring to engage in it, " When and how shall we plant, cultivate, 

 irrigate, and prune? and what enemies an^ diseases do we have to 

 contend with?" 



To describe these alh in detail as taught by the books, and prac- 

 ticed in different countries by many experienced and successful cul- 

 tivators, would require much more space and time than can be 

 allotted to an ordinary essay. I will, therefore, only rehearse those 

 most practiced in the leading orange growing districts of the world, 

 showing the great and apparently contradictory systems in use for 

 some portions of the world, and leave the discussion and selection of 

 the httest and best for southern California to the fruit growers 

 iissembled here. 



As the orange is found in a wide range of latitude from the equa- 

 tor north and south to points where tiie temperature does not fall 

 but a few degrees below the freezing point, the question of location 

 within this limit involves only the quality of the soil, facilities for 

 irrigation, when needed, shelter from prevailing heavy winds, acces- 

 sibility to good markets, and pleasant and agreeable associations and 

 surroundings. Hence, in this there is not so much difference of 

 opinion. In the countries ranging along the parallels of latitude of 

 southern California, the orange is planted from points within a few 

 feet of the level of the ocean to an altitude of twenty-five hundred 

 feet above it. Some claim that the fruit raised near the sea land, 

 especially in moist climates, is much more juicy, with thin and ten- 

 der pulp, but a skin too soft and delicate for transportation, except 

 onl}' for sliort distances from where produced. While that grown at 

 greater altitudes and greater distance from the sea, or in arid climates 

 near the sea, is noted for its excellent keeping qualities, undergoing 

 transportation to long distances without injury, but possessing a 

 tougher pulp. Soils also influence the quality of the fruit, but in 

 the selection of these tliere is but one opinion among intelligent cul- 

 tivators, that a well drained soil, rich in all the elements necessary 

 for the growth of trees, is the best, and when these elements are want- 

 ing, they must be supplied, if success is desired. Shelter from pre- 

 vailing winds is also conceded to be necessary, and in some countries, 

 as in Sicily and Lower California, protection from heavy fogs and 

 winds from the sea is much recommended. 



The methods of planting, the stocks selected for the orchard, as 

 Avell as tlie number of trees per acre, are widely different in different 

 countries. Along the Mediterranean and in Florida the bitter, or 

 sour, orange stock has been most recommended for budding, and in 

 some instances several varieties of the lemon have been used for this 

 purpose. The sweet seedling orange has, however, within a few 

 years been very generally introduced, and will, no doubt, supplant 

 all other stocks for orchard purposes. In Florida, Lower California, 

 and some portions of Australia it is strongly recommended to plant 

 the seed from well selected fruit, even the whole orange, in some 

 cases, where the tree is to remain, claiming that the transplanting of 

 the young trees from the nurseries, and the consequent injury to the 

 tap root, will permanently injure the tree. In southern Australia, 

 notably at Paramatta, where the orange is extensively and success- 



