14 



In order to prevent the first fruit being frozen, tlie 

 grower should in the first place liave liis orcliard in a 

 good state of CLdtivation in the previous fall; apply the 

 fertilizer early in the spring and cultivate frequently 

 through the summer as described in paragraph on cul- 

 tivation. If this method be pursued the fruit will 

 reach maturity early in the fall and it will be possible 

 to have it harvested before any serious damage from 

 cold weather occurs. 



The fruit of the kumquat will stand a lower tem- 

 perature than the Satsuma. The green fruit will suf- 

 fer at 24 above zero, while the ripe fruit will become 

 soft from the effect of low temperature (22 above) but 

 in from ten days to two wrecks may again be normal. 



CULTIVATION 



The cultivation of an orchard is of the utmost im- 

 portance. While it has formerly been held that cul- 

 tivation should begin in the spring and extend over a 

 period of three to four months after which time the 

 orchard should be left alone, our data proved that this 

 system is wrong and cannot be recommended to those 

 engaged in orange culture nor to the prospective grow- 

 er in South Alabama. 



There are several reasons: Aeration is abso- 

 lutely necessary for the plant to assimilate ])lant food. 

 Again, the vigor instilled into the plant during the first 

 part of the summer when proper cultivation was main- 

 tained is seriously reduced by ceasing cultivation the 

 latter part of July or the first of August. Furthermore, 

 it is evident »hat the plant cannot avail itself of and 

 as'^imi'ate nourishuT^nl to the fullest extent when a 

 hard crust is formed on the surface. Moreover the 

 question resolves itself into one of economy as to 

 whether the plant food in the form of fertilizer should 

 be consumed by weeds or by the trees for which piu*- 

 pose it was applied. 



Aside from the foregoing the lack of cultivation in 

 the latter part of the season has a very serious effect 

 on the trees and considerably reduces their resistance 

 against cold. The weeds growing in the orchards 

 around the trees retain moisture and consequentlj'^ the 

 low temperature will more seriously affect such or- 

 chards than where clean cultivation is practiced. We 

 would not advise any orchardist now engaged in or- 

 ange culture nor any prospective grower to follow the 



