20 



THE AGRICULTURAL NEWS. 



January -27. 1917. 



ORIGIN OF THE NAVEL ORANGE. 



In 1913-14, an agricultural expedition to southern Brazil 

 was organized by the I'nited States Department of Agricul- 

 ture, to collect all available information concerning the navel 

 orange, particularly at Bahia, from which point the parent 

 Washiiigcon navel trees were sent to the I'nited States. The 

 observations and conclusions of the expedition (briefly 

 refernd to in the Ayrirultural Newgior November 4, 1916), 

 which should not be without interest to persons concerned with 

 citrus cultivation in the West Indies, are summarized in the 

 Monthly Bulletin, ("aliforina State Comiuission of Horticul- 

 ture, as follows: — 



All available evidence proves that the navel orange of 

 Bahia originated about 1820 as a bud sport from the selecta 

 variety, and was first propagated by a Portuguese, the first 

 man to use this method of plant propagation in Brazil. 



The Washington navel orange was introduced into the 

 United States by the United States Department of Agricul- 

 ture in 1870 from Bahia. Brazil. The first trees sent to 

 California by the department were planted on the L. C. Tibbets 

 ranch at Riverside about 1S7-J, and these two trees are still 

 living, the property of the city. 



The navel orange groves of trees of our west and of 

 several foreign countries are directly descended from the 

 Tibbets trees. The great commercial success of the navel 

 orange industry in California is the foundation upon which 

 the successful citrus industry of this State as a whole h^s 

 been built. 



The oldest navel orange trees found in Brazil were more 

 than forty years of age. They are now producing the largest 

 and best crops of any trees found in that district. 



The method of tree renewal for treating diseased trees 

 in Bahia is a success. The replacing of diseased trees 

 by growing a new top is universally practised in that region. 



The use of manure in maintaining the citrus trees in pro- 

 ductive condition, and improving the quality of the fruit is an 

 establi.shed and successful practice. The liberal use of manure 

 is considered to be absolutely essential to profitable citrus 

 production The average annual production is about 100 

 navel oranges per tree. 



Scale and other in.sect enemies of the citrus are evidently 

 controlled by natural parasites. 



The Bahian navel fruits are very different in appearance, 

 quality, and other commercial characteristics from Californian 

 fruit. For this reason we may safely conclude that no one can 

 foretell exactly the behaviour of plants under new environ- 

 mental conditions. Consequently all food-plants introduced 

 should have a wide and careful trial, and in our opinion all 

 foreign food-plant.s should be tried without too fixed ideas as 

 to their probable behaviour in any particular region. 



The shipment of bud wood or trees from Brazil is 

 attended with both difficulty and danger. Cireat care must 

 be u.sed in packing and condition of storage and shipment in 

 order to preserve the buds in living condition. The bud 

 wood should be inspected with the greatest pos.sible care in 

 Brazil and in the United States in order to prevent the 

 introduction of insect enemies, fungous disease or other 

 parasitic pests. 



The discovery of the Bahia navel orange by a traveller 

 in Brazil is a good illustration of the importance of careful 

 observation of food-plants in foreign countries by all travellers. 

 All information about new food-plants found in this way is 

 likely to prove of value. Through the Office of Seed and 

 Plant Introduction of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, such information can be followed up, and if 

 desirable, supplies of bud wood or seed be obtained for trial 

 in this country. 



We found a t'jtal of about 76,000 navel orange trees 

 near Bahia. The orchards are located on hilltops or hillsides. 

 The orange growers are prosperous and an effort is being made 

 by the locil government to extend the culture of this variety. 



A permanent cover crop of Para grass in connexion with 

 the liberal use of cow manure was the most successful method 

 of culture observed, under the conditions of an average 

 annual rainfall of about 50 inches. 



Citrus bud sports are common in the orchards observed. 

 The origin of the navel orange from this cause is proof of the 

 importance of this condition in the improvement of citrus 

 fruits. 



DOWN THE ISLANDS. 



ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST 



ST. VINCENT. In his report for the month of December 

 Mr. W. N Sands states that in the Experiment Stations 

 routine work was carried on in connexion with the gathering 

 and examination of seed-cotton from selected and hybrid 

 plants, and the collection and destruction of cotton stainers. 

 Plant distribution included i grafted mango plants and 

 27 miscellaneous. Work in the Botanic Gardens and nursery 

 consisted of the cutlassing of rubber and cacao plots, 

 trimming trees, and cleaning walks and plants. In addition, 

 seventy young cacao plants were budded at stake in plots and 

 'thrips' fungus from culture prepared by the ilycologist of the 

 Imperial Department was sprayed on cacao. In regard to 

 staple crops, it is stated that preparations were being made 

 to start sugar-making, and improvements in machinery for 

 the manufacture of a good grade of muscovado sugar 

 had been effected on several estates. The cane cultivations 

 made good progress generally. The reaping of arrowroot 

 was retarded owing to the unusually dry weather. Cotton 

 picking was carried on under favourable conditions, but the 

 yields generally were very poor. A furthfr outbreak of cotton 

 worm occurred at Katho Mill estate, but the crop was well 

 advanced and little damage was done. The Imperial 

 Commissioner of .\griculture accompanied by ilr. Edgar 

 Tripp, Secretary of the Agricultural Society, Trinidad, 

 inspected the Government Ginnery and Experiment Station 

 with the Agricultural Superintendent on December 1. Visits 

 of officers of the 1 'epartment included one on December 8 by 

 the Agricultural Superintendent and Assistant Agricultural 

 Superintendent to ^ mng's Island, to ascertain if there was 

 land there suitable for an isolation plot for the propagation 

 of a, pure strain of Sea Island cotton for general planting. 

 The situation was considered satisfactory, and a scheme will 

 be submitted. An investigation to endeavour to ascertain 

 where the eggs of cdtton stainer are laid was started by the 

 Agricultural Superintendent. 



The weather during the month was abnormally dry. 

 The rainfall at the Botanic Station was 2-29 inches, and at 

 the Experiment Statinn 2 07 inches. The total precipitation 

 for the year 1916 at these stations was 137'63 and 

 119"75 inches, respectively. 



DOMINICA. .Mr. .Joseph Jones reports a continuation of 

 general routine work in the Experiment Stations during the 

 month of December. Xine bags of cacao and one of kola 

 nuts were shipped t.. London during the month. Plant 

 distribution was as I Hows: limes 4,800, budded citrus 118, 

 shade trees 80. mis. , ilaneous 3, making a total of 4,971. 

 In regard to staple ■ . ips he states that a fair second crop of 

 limes is now being r?' iped by many of the estates th.at did 

 not suffer severely in the recent hurricane. The price of good 



