176 



to the Citrus family. In fact, crops cannot be depended upon unless ttie 

 trees can be supplied with water during periods of drought. The trees 

 are always in an active state of growth, and the roots absorb a great deal 

 of moisture from the soil. This moisture must be replaced from some 

 source, or otherwise root action is interfered with more or less, and the 

 trees suffer. The easiest and most effective way of supplying water is by 

 a system of irrigation. This mode should be adopted when practicable, 

 as it will prove a great aid in the culture of the Citrus family. As 

 regards the watering required by trees of the Citrus family, no precise 

 rules can be laid down, as much will necessarily depend upon the 

 character of the season arid nature of the soil. As a general rule, the 

 trees should never be allowed to flag through lack of moisture at their 

 roots. On the other hand, however, water should not be used more 

 freely than is necessary, as when supplied in excess the fruit is liable to 

 become coarse, wanting in flavour, and too tender for packing and 

 keeping. 



SHELTER. 



Shelter from bleak winds is necessary to the successful cultivation of 

 the Oranire family, and no trees suffer inore by exposure, both as regards 

 their health and the quality of the fruit. In exposed situations the trees 

 have a tendency to produce thick-skinned fruit deficient in juiciness and 

 flavour, and the produce of the choicest varieties is sometimes so altered 

 in character as not to be recognised easily The value of effective shelter 

 is fully appreciated by European cultivators, and invariably provided for. 

 At St. Michael, one of the Azore Islands, where Orange-growing is the 

 staple industry, the cultivators commonly shelter their trees from the 

 bleak winds which sweep over the Atlantic by means of stone walls of 

 fiom twelve feet to twenty feet high. When there is no shelter naturally, 

 cultivators should always make provision for it by planting belts or lines 

 of quick-growing trees to serve as break winds. If the area is of large 

 extent it will be necessary to have cross break winds in addition to those 

 on the boundaries. There are many quick-growing dense-foliaged trees 

 which will answer the purpose. Care must, however, be taken that the 

 roots of these breakwinds do not interfere with those of the Orange trees. 

 As an effective breakwind, and more especially as a secondary one, some- 

 thing may be said in favour of the Olive, which answers admirably, though 

 it does not make such rapid growth as some other trees. On the other 

 hand, however, its roots are less troublesome when it gets large, and the 

 tree itself yields a return in fruit. 



PROPAGATION. 



The Citrus family can be propagated from seeds, layers, cuttings, 

 budding, and grafting. Seedling plants are, as a matter of course, 

 uncertain as to the quality of their fruit, and some years will elapse 

 before they come into bearing. It is no uncommon thing for trees to be 

 eight or ten years old before they begin to fruit, and their value ascer- 



