CALIFORNIA CITRUS CULTURE. 



will always be at the command of the purchaser, is of great impor- 

 tance to both the producer and consumer. The northern groves pos- 

 sess two advantages: They supply the early better market, and the 

 early ripened fruit is likely to precede any possible frost. 



LOCALITY. 



There are certain requirements that should always engage the most 

 serious and painstaking attention of the one about to engage in the 

 growing of oranges and lemons: soil, water and climate are dominant 

 factors in successful citrus culture. 



The soil should be a rich loam; either clay, or sand or gravel may 

 predominate. We now know that humus is an absolute requisite for 

 any productive soil or any crop, so a good supply of organic matter 

 is essential. While in such arid soils as those of California, humus 

 is unfortunately limited in amount, yet the nitrogen content of the 

 humus in these soils is usually large; thus I say, rich loam, for 

 though we may supply this decaying organic matter, when it is meager 

 in quantity, yet the orchardist is most favored who has in his soil a 

 goodly proportion of this valuable humus. We have only to. mention 

 Redlands, Riverside, Santa Paula, and Porterville to prove that the 

 best citrus fruit can be produced on quite heavy clay; even adobe soil 

 often produces first-class oranges and lemons ; on the other hand, much 

 of the San Gabriel Valley is remarkable for its sandy, gravelly acres. 

 This soil may also boast of great crops of very superior fruit. The 

 clay soils are very strong, very productive, very enduring, but they 

 must be kept aerated and in good tilth, which is no light task. The 

 man who cultivates a clay citrus grove must have good brain power, 

 and must use his brains to the limit. We may say a grove of heavy 

 clay soil is first best if its owner is first best. Such soils must never 

 be tilled when not in prime condition and the drainage should be per- 

 fect. A sandy, gravelly soil is less retentive of moisture, is not so 

 strong, and must be abundantly fed. It can be worked almost imme- 

 diately after a heavy rain with no serious injury, and so may be 

 handled with less of care, less of diligence in short, less of brains. 

 Such soils suffer little from lack of aeration. I was told, in Sicily, 

 that the lemons grown on clay soils were superior in quality, brought 

 a higher price one fourth more and kept better than those grown 

 on sandy soils. 



