ORANGE CULTURE. 



'OCATION. A location remote from market, or through line of transporta- 

 l tion, occasions great inconvenience and expense in marketing the crop, 

 and in procuring the necessary implements, supplies, etc. The pros- 

 pective orange grower should locate near a town or village, and, if, 

 possible, upon some navigable stream or railroad. The country along the 

 St. John's River and its tributaries offers especial facilities in these respects. 

 The proximity of muck for fertilizing purposes is an item of importance. 



Situation and Exposure. The orange, when surrounded by the proper 

 natural protection, will stand a considerable degree of cold. In exposed 

 situations, especially after the trees have commenced growing in the spring, 

 sudden frosts often do much damage. More depends upon local conditions 

 than upon latitude. Orange trees in Southern Georgia have escaped injury 

 during severe cold, which killed trees in South Florida. The best situations 

 are protected on the northwest by bodies of water, which are more or less 

 efficacious according to their extent and proximity. These serve to temper 

 the cold winds of winter, which come from this direction. Where there 

 is no water protection, a protection of forest trees is excellent. Unlike the 

 above, this should be arranged to shelter the trees on the southeast ; it is 

 the morning sun that injures the trees after they have been frozen. In ex- 

 posed places, where it is impracticable to leave the native growth, forest 

 trees should be planted for this purpose. Mature trees protect themselves 

 by their dense foliage, and are seldom seriously injured by frost. Young 

 trees without natural protection should be artificially protected from severe 

 cold during winter. 



Soil. Any soil not susceptible of thorough drainage, is unfit for orange 

 culture. Low pine lands, called "flat woods," should be avoided; and all 

 lands which have a subsoil of ''hard-pan," or quicksand. The high, grey 

 hummocks and rolling pine lands are best adapted to the orange. It also 

 flourishes in hummocks where clay, sand, shell, or loam predominates. 

 The low, rich hummocks, where well drained, make fine trees, and have 

 some decided advantages ; it is probable, however, that the trees will not 

 attain as great age as upon the high lands. This is also the case with dark, 

 loamy pine lands, which are free from "hard-pan," and admit of drainage. 

 Clay or sand affords a good subsoil ; marl is especially desirable. 



Preparation of the Ground. It is of great importance that the soil be properly 

 prepared. It is more profitable to wait a year, or even longer, than to set 

 trees before the soil has been rendered perfectly friable by cultivation. 

 Orange trees will not thrive upon new, "sour" land, and if set on such 



