ORANGES, LEMONS, AND LIMES WATERING AND FEEDING. 55 



whilst the fruit is turning yellow. It is better, however, to have the trees flower- 

 ing in January, February, and March, as then the fruit has all the summer to swell and 

 the autumn to ripen in, but the blossoms must be made the most of whenever they 

 appear, and then ripe fruit may be had almost all the year. 



When the days become short and dull, and the nights long and cold, say in November 

 and December, let the night temperature fall to 55 ; maintain 65 by day, advancing 

 5 to 10 from sun-heat, and admit air freely when the external conditions are favourable. 



Watering. Sufficient water is required during the growing season to keep the 

 foliage healthy. If the soil is too dry, the leaves will fall too soon ; if too wet, the 

 roots perish and the leaves drop. Less water will be needed in the winter than in the 

 growing period, and comparative dryness is beneficial when the trees are at rest. 

 Eain water is better than any other, but it should not be colder than the soil is in which 

 the roots are established. "Whether planted- out or grown in pots the whole of the trees 

 do not need water at the same time, and their individual requirements must be ascer- 

 tained by examination. 



Feeding. Liquid manure is less effective than top-dressings, and when used should 

 be weak and clear. The following mixture is excellent for top-dressings : Yellow 

 fibrous loam, 1 bushel ; cow manure, 1^ peck, or deer or sheep droppings, 1 peck, dried 

 and rubbed through a -inch sieve ; steamed bone-meal, J peck ; powdered charcoal, 

 Y peck ; all level measure and thoroughly incorporated. Sprinkle a handful of the mixture 

 thinly on a 13 -inch pot, or that quantity to a foot superficial of the bed, when the fruit 

 is set, say in April, and repeat two or three times at intervals of a month to six weeks. 



Ripe Fruit. Oranges will hang on the trees many weeks after they are ripe, and retain 

 their juiciness and delicious flavour. The fruit may be gathered when ripe and placed 

 in a cool room ; but this is not a desirable plan, for it then has too much the appearance 

 of imported ; and to render home-grown oranges the most attractive, each fruit should be 

 gathered with two or three deep shining green leaves attached, garnishing with a 

 few sprays of blossom when obtainable. For this there is often a great demand, and 

 superfluous sprays can usually be disposed of to advantage. 



DISEASES AND ENEMIES. 



Diseases. There are few ailments to which the orange tree is liable in this country. 

 Fungus at the roots, gumming at the root-crown and in the limbs, and " black smut " 

 on the leaves and fruit, are the chief affections. Fungus at the roots arises from the 



