CHAPTER, VT. 

 TREATMENT OP TBEES FOB CROP. 



If the trees are treated as explained in the foregoing chapter and if the 

 soil is of the right kind they come to bearing aee when they have completed 

 their fourth year in their permanent home. They often flower without any 

 special treatment. This is particularly so in East Khandesh, but as a rule 

 orange trees do require some kind of tieatment. Citrus trees, if they are 

 continuously irrigated throughout the year simply produce a mass of leaves 

 and no flowers. Orange trees apparently look like evei green trcea, but 

 strictly speaking they are deciduous, and it is only in this condition that they 

 bear flo wers. For this reason, the tree has to be induced to drop its leaves 

 and this can be done within certain limits according to the wishes and con- 

 venience of tho owner, for, orange trees can flower in February or Jane or 

 in October. These flowering times have three difftrent nart-es, namely, 

 amhe-bahar or February flowering, which corresponds with the flowering of 

 the mango ; mrig-bahar or June flowering and hatli-bahar or October 

 flowering. Orange trees should be induced to flower only once in a year and 

 not twice or thrice, for, in that ca^e the crop standing on the tree will suffer 

 and the trees will be exhausted. One of the two first flowerings is rsually 

 chosen, as the trees require the cutting off of water and renting before each 

 flowering and this is not so easy to secure for the hatti-bahar, as the rains 

 continue :to fall till the middle of October. 



Now to take ombe-bahar t for the first time, water should be withheld 

 from the trees during the second half of December, and first half of Janu- 

 ary. In ordinary cases one month's resting is usually sufficient, at least no 

 more resting need usually be given to young trees for tho first time ; although 

 in retentive soils six weeks' rest may be necessary. During tho time when 

 two watering turns are missed the whole garden should be carefully plough- 

 ed with a two bullock plough. If that is not possible the whole garden 

 should be hand dug ; at least the ground near the trees will have to be 

 dug uo. Withholding of water and ploughing between the trees will ripen 

 off a considerable number of leaves which will then drop down. During 

 the fourth week it is the usual practice to expose the roots of trees up to two 

 feet all round the stem to a depth of four inches, in which condition they 

 may be kept for about four days. Yonng fibrous and wiry loots which 

 may be growing on the exposed roots or near the stem may be safely pruned 

 but in no case large roots, which are the main stay of the tree, should be 

 touched or injured. Pruning of the roots apparently increases the check 

 on the water absorption without materially damaging the tree 

 Experiments are still necessary to determine how far this root pruuirg is 

 desirable. While the tree is in a resting condition all the dead and weakly 

 branches should be carefully pruned. Each tree should be treated with a 

 mixture of manure of cowdung, ash and old village refuse, about three 

 baskets per tree. This manure should be spread over the whole bed of 

 the tree and mixed with soil. It should not be heaped up around the 

 stem. 



Beds and water channels should now be made and the tree > irrigated by 

 January 15. The first irrigation should be scanty, just sufficient to 

 moisten the upper surface of the coil. This stimulates the formation 

 of flowers Copious watering at the first irrigation tends to produce leafy 

 hoots. The second watering should be given three days after the first 



