80 ORANGE, CITRON, AND LEMON TREES. 



ORANGE, CITRON, AND LEMON-TREES: 



CULTURE ADOPTED. 

 BY A nobleman's GARDENER. 



I HAVE observed several queries inserted in the Floricultural 

 Cabinet relative to the culture of the above class of trees, and having 

 erected a conservatory three years ago, a portion of it was wholly 

 devoted to the Orange, «&:c. The excellent success which has resulted 

 from my efforts induces me to send the particulars for the benefit of the 

 inquirers. 



The house is heated by hot water along the front and ends ; the 

 pipes are concealed by a neat metal covering, used as a stand for plants. 

 I had a raised pit as broad as I could allow it, leaving the pathway 

 around. The pit was three feet deep ; a substratum of stones, near a 

 foot deep, was first constructed, and the other part filled up with com- 

 post of the following materials : — A layer of rough turfy loam, about 

 four inches deep, was laid over the stones, then the compost, which had 

 been previously made in proportion, as follows. Six barrow-fulls of 

 strong turfy loam, half the quantity of well-rotten dung, and about a 

 quarter of old rotted vegetable manure, to which a moderate sprinkling 

 of charcoal, in bits about the size of horse beans, and others in large 

 pieces. The compost was allowed to settle well before planting. 

 After the trees had rooted in the compost, I gave soft (rain) water 

 twice at the roots to once of rich manure water, always giving as much 

 at a time as would sink to the depth of the fibrous roots. With such 

 proviso and attention the plants have succeeded beyond my utmost 

 expectations. In planting and arranging my plants, I liad a row along 

 the front and ends of the border, trained to a wire trellis, after the 

 manner of espalier trees, and pruned in a similar manner. These not 

 only bloom profusely, but bear fruit abundantly ; Orange, Citron, and 

 Lemon alike. The other trees in the bed are standards ; the highest 

 at the back. They are set wide enough apart not to interfere with 

 each other, when they reach a due size. In order to have the heads 

 duly arranged, I have round rods, six feet high above the ground, 

 placed around so as to tie the branches to, and regularly distribute 

 them. I prune so as to have the plants open and vigorous, and the 

 best results follow such attention in the vigour and fruitful character 

 of the wood, and size, flavour, &c., of the fruit. 



I cannot avoid here observing, that in the usual management of 

 Oranges, and other trees of the same description in greenhouses, how- 

 ever fine the plants, they only serve the purpose of ornament, and are 

 otherwise useless, never producing any fruit fit for the table. The 

 failure arises from the common practice with most gardeners of taking 

 these trees out of the greenhouse when they put out the common 

 greenhouse plants for the summer months ; whereas, the proper course 

 which they ought to follow, is to keep them in the house through the 

 whole season, and to avail themselves of the removal of the other 

 plants to apply the peculiar treatment necessary to bring them into 

 proper bearing. From the experience which my practice has given 

 me, I do not think that Orange and other similar trees require much 



