SOUR ORANGE STOCK. 



There are several varieties of the sour orange tree that are used in 

 many parts of the country as stock for budding purposes. In Florida 

 the "sour orange," or "wild orange," grows in the swamps, and is best 

 adapted to those low, wet lands, as in such lands the sweet orange stock 

 does not live. For this reason this stock is mostly planted. In Florida 

 the sweet orange stock is subject to "foot rot," a disease similar to the 

 "gum disease " prevalent in our State, especially in orchards planted on 

 heavy soil; these, however, are very limited. The "Hammock" lands 

 are planted with the orange and the lemon. These so called " Hammock " 

 lands are low, wet soils, and are always moist. If the sweet orange stock 

 be planted in such soils it certainly cannot live, such conditions being en- 

 tirely unfavorable to its culture. The sweet orange stock requires good 

 soil and high, dry elevation, while the sour stock requires moist soil, 

 which is only found in these "Hammock" or low lands. The land 

 called "pine land" is of higher elevation and dry. The pines are 

 grubbed out and in their place orange trees are planted. This is what is 

 there termed " high pine land," to distinguish it from the Hammock or 

 low, wet lands. 



From observations, I find that the stock does influence the bud to 

 some extent; this, however, is very slight, and is only noticed by experts. 

 One of the greatest objections to this sour stock in those swamps is that 

 it throws up suckers very freely, and as they have to be removed con- 

 tinually, in time the body of the tree presents a curious phenomenon; 

 instead of being smooth, it is very deeply ribbed, and the protuberances 

 at the base swell to immense proportions. This, however, is somewhat 

 avoided by careful trimming. Trees planted on high land, however, do 

 not act thus, and especially where they are properly attended to. 



That this stock is very hardy cannot be denied, but whether it will 

 thrive in our dry soils, under entirely different conditions, only time 

 can tell. The orange groves of California are not planted on low, wet 

 lands (we have no such lands), but on the contrary, are planted on dry 

 soil, which is irrigated through the summer. In Florida it rains through 

 the summer months, and the winters are generally dry. In California 

 we have generally no rains throughout the summer, and the winters are 

 mostly wet, this being our rainy season. If irrigation shall take the 

 place of rain, and the trees thus become acclimated, time only can deter- 

 mine. 



There is no question but that there is a scarcity of orange stock, but 

 growers can well afford to wait until the value of this stock is proven 

 beyond a doubt, lest they may make a mistake that will require several 

 years to rectify and at great expense. If the stock is really desired 

 for orchard purposes, why not import the seed and not the tree? The 

 seed, from the time of germination, would be grown in our own climate 

 and soil and would receive different treatment, and would certainly be 

 better adapted to the locality where the tree is to be grown. There could 

 then be no risk, at least in introducing injurious insect pests, as is the 

 case where the trees are imported.* 



Perhaps the first orchard planted in this State, budded on this sour 

 stock, was that planted at Orange by D. C. Hay ward, some ten or fifteen 



* Nurserymen are now planting the spur orange seed, and very soon plenty of home 

 grown stock can be obtained. Some Riverside nurserymen have already considerable 

 young nursery stock. 



