702 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF AGRICULTURE. 



During recent years a new character has been given to orange culture in Jamaica 

 by systematic planting and increased attention. The climate in the elevated por- 

 tions of the i7iterior is believed to be exceedingly well adapted to the orange, and the 

 soil also. When cultivation is bestowed the first effect is to increase the size of the 

 fruit. Manuring is much neglected, but when manures are applied the increased 

 3'ield and the more rapid growth of the tree are very noticeable. 



Th(^ orange season is from September to April. Those who are experimenting 

 with irrigation entertain the idea that the season may be controlled so as to produce 

 fruit at any desired time of the year by its aid. The yield in a tropical climate may 

 be described as more continuous than in a warm, temperate, or subtropical region. 

 The tendency to continuous flowering is so strong, that every copious shower may 

 be said to be followed by a growth of young shoots with their flowers. 



FELIX A. MATHEWS, CONSUL, TANaiER, MOROCCO. 



Oranges ayid lemons. — In any country where the medium temperature in winter 

 is superior to 40' and in summer rises to 85° the cultivation of orange orchards can 

 be made lucrative. 



Here orange trees are planted both inland and on the sea-coast, on valleys, hill- 

 sides, and uplands. They yield best results in weU-drained low-lying lands sheltered 

 from the cold north winds. They are not particular with regard to soil; they grow 

 luxuriantly in the sand, provided they are manured and copiously watered in the 

 stimmer. 



Seedlings are preferred, as they stand cold weather and yield largely. If the seeds 

 are from the finest fruits, there will be no necessity to bud them. 



The best stock for budding upon is the bitter or sour orange. There are numerous 

 varieties of the sweet orange: the Balearic or Mallorea orange, large, smooth, thin 

 skin, of vigorous growth; the Portugal or China orange, of less growth than the 

 Balearic, but producing very large fruit; the orange of Nice, highly favored in 

 Provence for its elegance and beautiful fruit; the Maltese or Blood orange is very 

 rich, and also an abundant bearer, having a pulp stained with crimson. 



The fogs and white frosts of spring sometimes cause an alteration in the orange 

 tree, which afterwards is shown in the shape of reddish spots on the exterior p^t 

 of the skin of the fruit, which render it unfit for use. 



SELECTED EXTRACTS RELATIVE TO ORANGE CULTURE IN AUSTRALIA. 



Without a suitable location you cannot grow oranges profitably. What is wanted 

 is this: a sheltered site, with natural drainage and a light porous soil. One of the 

 best groves I know of is situated in a nearly perfect basin, the rim of which is sur- 

 rounded by a belt of trees. It is thus sheltered from every wind, and to a consid- 

 erable extent from the morning sun, which is an important consideration. The 

 formation of the land on this estate consists of a number of stratified sandstone 

 shelves or natural teiTaces. The soil appears to be pure sand, and in some places it 

 is quite shallow, but the trees do very well on it. The best of the soil, however, is 

 sandy loam, and in one sheltered nook, where there is a depth of about 9 feet of 

 this on the bank of a creek, there are four trees growing, the tallest of which is 37 

 feet high. 



In selecting an orange site it is necessary, among other things, to see that it is 

 favorably situated in regard to frost. Frost is very eccentric in its movements. It 

 strikes one point and misses another close by. An air current, Uke a current of 

 water, flows along till it meets any obstacle, and then, like water, it flows over or 

 around it. Where a frosty air current meets a hill the volatile flow goes either over 

 or around it, falling here and there on its direct course, while to the side eddies form 

 and set up a circular motion, gradually decreasing in strength as the distance in- 

 creases from the main current. 



The importance of shelter in orange growing is paramount, not only as a protec- 

 tion against cold winds, but more particularly as shade from tlie morning sun. The 

 rays of the morning sun falling on a frosted tree do much harm, and most orange- 

 growing countries are subject to frost more or less. The Azores, a number of vol- 

 canic islands in the Atlantic, are situated between latituf^ - 86' 55' and 39° 44'. The 

 orange districts of Spain lie between the 86th and 4{ith degi-ees of latitude. Portugal 

 can grow oranges as far north as Oporto, in latitude 41° 9'. New South Wales 

 orange districts lie chiefly between 33° and 34°, and in Malta to 35° 50'. 



No doubt most orange-tree planters of the future will seek out situations naturally 

 sheltered, where the forest will answer as the break- wind and sun-shade, and when 

 such sittiations can be found with suitable soil their value will be very gi-eat. 



As to soil, in Australia a sandy loam is considered the best, and a heavy clay the 



