CHAPTER III. 



SOILS SUITABLE FOB ClTBUS TBEES. 



Some of the varieties of Citrus fruits are very accommodating and some 

 are very fastidious about soil conditions. A knowledge of the requirements 

 of Citrus trees as regards soil conditions is very essential for an intending 

 Citrus grower. A good many plantations have totally failed for want of 

 such knowlege. The Citrus grower should therefore carefully see that 

 bis soil ia of the right kind. Soils which are good enough for certain other 

 kinds of fruit trees will not necessarily do for orange trees. 



The Pomelo thrives best in sandy soils which drain freely in the rainy 

 season, such as that of Gholvad in the Thana District. It likewise grows 

 fairly well in medium black soil of the Deccan. Here however the frnit 

 never attains that size or flavour which is so characteristic of the Gholvad 

 plantations. A merely moist climate does not help the trees if they are in 

 stiff black soil such as that of Surat. 



The Kagdi Umbu tree is not very exacting in its choice cf soil ; it is 

 found to grow fairly well in the black soil of Puna-khumbharia near Surat. 

 But it gives certainly a better result if the soil is well drained. A soil may 

 be good in itself but its environment may make it quite unfit for this or 

 any other kind of Citrus tree. For instance, a soil may be in close proximity 

 to a main irrigation canal from which it may be receiving constant percola- 

 tion. Tt is hopeless to expect a good crop, even of Kagdi Umbu from, such 

 a garden. 



Santra and Mosambi plants are not at present grown on a large enough 

 scale specially in the Deccan and there is plenty of field for the extension 

 of these two crops. Heavy black soils through which water does not perco- 

 late freely or which are constantly moist should not be used for orange 

 trees. Extensive plains of black soils which are bounded by hills are 

 particularly unsuitable. In certain parts of the Nasik District (Nasik, 

 Dindori, Ugaon, Teola line) the soil is three feet or more deep of which the 

 upper one foot or so is fairly loose, but the lower soil is exceedingly sticky 

 and shining black. It does not show any signs of drying even though there is 

 no irrigation for more than three months in the hot season! Tn such soils 

 orange trees grow fairly well for about four years but they do not bear, or 

 if they bear a few fruits, the trees suddenly or gradually die ; branches dry 

 from top to bottom and no amount of pruning or manuring will help the tree 

 to recover. Many a garden in the Nasik District has failed in this manner. 

 Black cotton soils of Surat are also equally unsuited for orange cultivation. 

 In some places- of the Khaudesh District the soils which are very deep black 

 and are difficult vo work* and which crack deeply in the hot season should 

 be avoided. In many places commanded by the Nira .Left Bank Canal 

 there is hardly any soop-^ for Citrus cultivation, for two reasons (1) the soil 

 remains so completely saturated with underground percolation that the 

 trees hardly get sufficient resting however judiciously canal irrigation may 

 be controlled; and (2) some soils have become so salty that it is hopeless 

 to grow any kiud of perennial irrigated crop. In the Mutha Canal tract 

 the case is almost similar. Santra, gardens surrounded by sugarcane fields 

 can be maintained in good condition almost without water but the tiees 

 can hardly be brought to bear. It is a curious phenomenon that Sa.tra 

 trees in eome places commanded by canals die out in course of time while 

 M'Sambi trees growing near by in exactly similar places, receiving similar 

 treatment can hold their own for a longer period in spite of the fact that 

 both are budded on Jamburi Stock (Citrus medico, var. limonum). The 

 Mosambi trees do, of course, show sigua of bad drainage in course of time. 



