4.36 SECOND ANNUAL CITRUS EXHIBITION 



fully grown, holes are dug but fifteen inches in depth, and the bot- 

 tom of these are paved with large flat stones to keep the roots near 

 the surface, and to keep the tap root from growing down. 



The number of trees planted to the acre varies from 40, as in some 

 portions of Florida, to 300 per acre, as upon some of the terraced side 

 hills along the Mediterranean. The greater distance is, of course, 

 given to the seedling tree in its best condition, and budded trees are 

 exclusively used for close planting. These are now being more 

 largely planted, as they bear earlier than seedlings, consecjuently 

 give quicker returns and greater uniformity in the quality of the 

 fruit. ... 



Similar diversity of opinion and practice exists in regard to cul- 

 tivation, some sections claiming that any disturbance of the surface 

 that will injure the roots of the trees near the surface is injurious. 

 In Australia, where planting upon flat stone is recommended, the 

 best growers never dig amongst their trees, as they wish to keep the 

 roots massed as near the surface as possible. In Florida, and in some 

 portions of the Mediterranean, this custom is followed, keeping all 

 weeds down with the hoe. They are particular, however, not to per- 

 mit the ground to be trodden down or compacted by unnecessary 

 tramping or carting over it. On the other hand we have skillful and 

 also successful cultivators, who recommend deep annual plowings 

 and frequent cultivation to the depth of six inches or more, destroj'- 

 ing all surface roots within this depth. 



Irrigation, of course, is only necessary in countries where the seasons 

 are similar to those in southern California, some portions of the Med- 

 iterranean country and portions of Australia. In the latter country 

 they endeavor to avoid it bj^ heavy mulching, considering irrigation 

 as injurious to the trees. The systems employed are as diverse as in 

 other matters connected with orange culture, and are, unquestion- 

 ably, yet subject to great improvement, both as to the quantity of 

 water required and the method of applying it. 



In pruning there is also great diversity, from no pruning at all to 

 excessive annual cuttings. The system most practiced is to start the 

 tree with a moderately low head, and gradually work it up until a clear 

 trunk of some five or six feet is established, aiming, by judicious 

 shortening in, to keep the top well balanced and sufficiently spread- 

 ing to shade the body of the tree, always, of course, cutting out dead 

 limbs, or those that cross or rub against each other. When the trees 

 attain the age of ten to twelve years the interior of the tree is 

 trimmed out, leaving simply a narrow rim of foliage over the entire 

 top of the tree, which is carefully maintained from year to year. 



Dr. 0. FI. Conger, of Pasadena, had been invited to read an essay 



,on the Scale Insect. The Doctor could not be present, but he sent 



the following paper, which was read by James Bettner, of Riverside: 



THE SCALE INSECT. 



To H. J. Rndisill, A. S. White, and James Bettner, Executive Cow,mittee 

 Citrus Fair : 



Gentlemen: To comply with your expressed wish seems to me a 

 waste of time, since the " Brown Scale Pest " has been the subject of 

 so much study and comment from time immemorial, as well as an 



