CULTIVATION OF EXOTIC FRUITS. 49 



that the whole summer usually passed away in the same mauner, 

 and that the wiuter there was equally remarkable for its clear and 

 cloudless sky. When Orange-trees were first introduced to the 

 Island of St. Michael it was found absolutely necessary to plant 

 quicker-growing trees around them to shelter them from the 

 rude winds of the Atlantic. To such an extent was this planting 

 of shelter carried and persevered in, that that which was meant 

 for and really would have been a benefit, became an evil. The 

 Orange-trees in the over-sheltered gardens grew fast and luxu- 

 riantly, but the produce was inferior in quality and quantity to 

 that of gardens on the sides of mountains, whei - e it was found 

 impossible to exclude sunlight and air. It was in over-shel- 

 tered gardens where the hordes of Coccus first found a strong- 

 hold, and commenced their attack on the wealth of the Azores ; and 

 such was the natural indolence of the proprietors, that they 

 calmly watched the onward progress of the enemy destroying their 

 property, without even making an effort to stop its career. It 

 was with difficulty that Euglish gardeners persuaded them of the 

 cause of the evil by pointing out Orange-trees free from the pest 

 in more exposed situations. So many dear associations were 

 connected with shelters that it almost amounted to sacrilege to 

 cut them down. At length, however, one by one they gave way ; 

 an onslaught was made on those least required, and the advantage 

 derived was soon perceptible. In the gardens infested by these 

 destructive insects, their progress was checked, and the fruit of 

 others was so much improved by the free admission of light and 

 air that their value was materially increased. Facts like these, 

 therefore, will surely go far to convince reasonable people that all 

 the light and air that can be had is required to produce Oranges 

 in perfection under artificial treatment in this country. 



The operation of planting will require a good deal of attention, 

 as Orange-trees, when deeply planted, are subject to a kind of 

 canker, which originates at the base of the stem, and, though 

 it works its way slowly, eventually destroys the plants. In order 

 to avoid this evil it will be well to raise the soil where the trees 

 are to be planted a little higher than the general level of the 

 border, and this will afterwards admit of top-dressings to renovate 

 the soil when exhausted, without there being any danger of too 

 deeply burying the stems. Another important point will be to 

 select strong, healthy, and well-established plants, particularly of 

 the more tender kinds, for on the choosing strong plants success 

 in a great measure depends. I have seen the bad effects of 

 planting small and weakly trees in large houses. Time after 



