lo June, igu.] Citrus Fruit Culture. 377 



Light scarifyings and harrowings are all that will be necessary — a con- 

 stant state of looseness must be maintained. If ploughing is resorted to, 

 as a matter of urgency, then shallow ploughing must be the rule. In fairly 

 heavy or in heavy loam soils, ploughing should always be practised aftei 

 irrigation. The spreading of a body of water over the soil tends to con- 

 soFidate the soil particles ; and, in such soils, ploughing must quickly 

 follow a watering. 



The most suitable system of irrigation for citrus plantations is what 

 is known as the furrow system. The water is not allowed to spread ovei 

 the whole surface area, but is confined to two or three furrows between 

 the rows, being allowed to run slowly through the .soil. By this means, 

 the greater part of the surface is kept loose, and frequently it is quite 

 dry. The furrows should be of a reasonable depth so as to prevent over- 

 flow. This method is to be commended as far superior to the flooding 

 system. The latter style is wasteful, the water not being properlv con- 

 centrated; besides, it is frequently deceptive, e.g., when a fair amount of 

 water is given as a flooding, it may appear to be of a far greater quantity 

 than it really is, and probably the soakage has not extended to any great 

 depth at all. By the flooding system, there is a far greater amount of 

 water lost by evaporation in the summer time, both while the water is on 

 the ground and afterwards while the soil is drying sufficiently to allow 

 cultivation to be proceeded with, and subsequent cultivation is made much 

 more difficult. 



The young trees may be irrigated within a fortnight of planting ; sub- 

 sequent waterings will depend on various circumstances, such as the season, 

 age of plantation, the climate, and the soil. A young citrus grove will, 

 in the summer, need frequent waterings in small quantities ; whenever 

 the trees show any signs of flagging or wilting, they must be watered. 

 During a hot dry spell they will need a good supply of water ; during 

 cool weather the water mav be withheld, and the surface stirred instead. 

 In older plantations, four waterings each year should be ample ; indeed, 

 in .some seasons, this would be an excess quantity. 



Mulching is helpful to trees of this class; a good straw, grass, leaf, 

 or even well rotted stable manure mulch, provided it be not heaped around 

 the trunk of the tree, will always h^ useful ; and it will obviate a con- 

 siderable amount of digging and consequent root injury. If any hand 

 work is resorted to, the fork should always be used in preference to any 

 other tool, particular] \ when cultivating near the tree itself. Keep the 

 land well stirred, and never allow the formation of a hard crust. 



Manuring. 



Tt has prc\i()usly bet-n stated that c-itrus trees prefer a loose soil to a 

 rich one, but that richness and looseness form a good combination. Still. 

 the.se trees will grow, and thrive very well in pure sand. When the soil 

 is poor in qualitv. feeding to a limited extent will always be helpful to 

 the trees. But, as a rule, manuring will not need to be resorted to for a 

 few vears. or until the trees come into general bearing. It has l>een 

 estimated tliat oranges and lemons remove largt^ly from the soil. pota,%h 

 and nitrogen, especiallv the laiii 1. ^\\^\ ,1 small quantitv of |)hos|)h()ri(" 

 acid. 



A good chemical fertilizer would be made up of :; lb. bonedusl. i j lb. 

 sulphate of potash, and J lb. superphosphate to each tree, increasing the 

 (|uantity projjortionately with the age of the tree. Care must be taken 



