DIVISION OF GARDENS AND GROUNDS. 701 



Value. The ground between the trees is not cultivated, but merely kept free of 

 undergro%vth and weeds, and no system of artificial irrigation is in use, 



A. WILLARD, CONStJIi, QUAYMAS, MEXICO. 



Orangea. — The orange commences bearing about the fourth year, and continues 

 fruitful for twenty-five years, and is more productive in a heavy loamy soil. The 

 bottom-lands of the valleys inland yield the best results. There are no orchards 

 near the seashore. A system of artificial irrigation is used. Trees are usually 

 planted 20 to 25 feet apart, and the ground in the orchards is sometimes planted in 

 corn and vegetables. The variety grown is known as the Sicily, though climate 

 and soil have changed it somewhat, and the variety is not clearly marked. 



Tjie oranges of this consular district are known for their sweet flavor. The pro- 

 duction in the State is somewhat in excess of the home consumption, and some are 

 shipped from in and around Hermosillo, over the Sonora Railroad, to Arizona and 

 New Mexico. There is said to be a large margin of profit on the crop, now that it 

 can be transported by rail to the United States. 



GEORGE E. HOSKINSON, CONSUL, KINGSTON, JAMAICA. 



Orange culture in Jamaica. — The varieties principally grovdng and bearing are 

 native seedUngs. Many of the trees now furnishing fruit for exportation are the rem- 

 nants of those which were, prior to emancipation, planted by the slaves near their 

 dwellings, such as the irregular groves now to be found on sugar estates and coffee 

 plantations; other bearing trees are seedlings, which have come up spontaneously in 

 pastures and guinea-gi-ass pieces. Since emancipation the colored people have 

 planted orange trees in their small freeholds in the mountains. This has been done 

 to a large extent in the parish of Manchester, where sweet oranges of good quality 

 have been long grown and where the soil and climate conduce to excellence in the 

 quality of the fruit. These are admitted to be the best in the island, on account of 

 size, sweetness, flavor, and for their good keeping qualities. It has also been main- 

 tained that they bear handling, packing, and the sea voyage to New York better 

 than varieties grown elsewhere; for example, better than those giown on the north 

 side of the island. The botanic garden authorities have introduced many good va- 

 rieties, among others the Tangerine. These are all either grafted or budded. Seed- 

 ling trees begin to bear at eight, nine, and ten years, and are in full bearing at fifteen 

 or twenty years. Grafted or budded trees come into bearing a little earlier from the 

 time of planting out. It is only latterly, that is, since the development of the export 

 trade, that budding and grafting have been resorted to. 



Most of the trees in pastures and on sugar estates and coffee plantations are isolated. 

 In close plantations the distances are between 20 and 30 feet. Wider planting is pre- 

 ferred by intelligent growers, as tending to the best results. Tangerine oranges axe 

 planted at 22 feet apart, and larger sweet oranges at 25 to 30 feet apart. 



Plantations of oranges are made principally at elevations above 1,000 feet. In 

 Manchester the elevations will average 2,000 feet. Undulating valleys are selected 

 on account of the greater depth of soil to be found in such spots, also on account of 

 its gi-eater richness. The soil principally selected is that of the white limestone for- 

 mation of .Jamaica geology kno'vvn as '* honey-comb rock." The resulting soil is a 

 strong red earth, calcareous and ochery, owing to the presence of red oxide of iron. 

 Orange trees yield the best results on the limestone soils, both on account of con- 

 stituents promoting fertility and on account of the perfect natural drainage of such 

 soils. 



Proximity to the sea-shore is avoided. The powerful sea-breezes are hurtful to the 

 blossoms and tender branches. At an elevation of 500 feet the sea-breeze ceases to 

 be troublesome. The sea -shore is also too arid; and, as a rule, the soil of the coast- 

 line is sterile and unsuitable. 



Artificial irrigation is only practiced to a limited extent in the plain of St. Cath- 

 erine, and must be regarded at present as experimental merely. 



The principal crop cultivated between orange trees is guinea-gi-ass ; but some of 

 the best growers prefer to keep up a clean cultivation. The general practice, how- 

 ever, is to allow the grass to grow, and to keeji weeds and slurubby undergro'■v^i;h 

 cut down by means of a bush-knife. In the grounds of the peasantrj' tlie whole list 

 of cultiva.ted crops in the tropics might be enumerated as crops cultivated between 

 or.ange trees. The " yard "' or " i^ro vision ground " of the peasant is generally a per- 

 fect medley of vegetable growth, including, besides orange trees, almost everything 

 else. In such places the cultivation of the orange tree is associated with the stirring 

 and cleaning of the ground necessary for the smaller crops. 



