96 Oranges and Lemons of India. 



that the soil should be capable of retaining a good deal 

 of moisture. The difference of production is great in 

 dry and moist soils. In the latter if there be fifty 

 oranges per tree, in the former there would be only five 

 to ten. Generally speaking, a garden would do well 

 in a soil made up of half sand and half earth, and most 

 of the gardens on this side are under these conditions. 



"Situation of gardens. From their peculiar situa- 

 tion, the gardens here have natural advantages, which 

 I doubt if gardens in California possess. There are 

 several hill streams, some small, some comparatively 

 broad, coming down from the Khasia hills into the 

 Surma river ; and the gardens extend for miles along 

 both sides, spreading also to a considerable distance 

 inland. They are, in fact, situated between a network 

 of small hill streams, which overflow their banks during 

 heavy downpours. This answers for irrigation. The 

 rush of water is very strong, so long as the downpour 

 lasts, but the flood subsides within a few hours. 

 During these freshets, every part of the garden goes 

 under water, not infrequently 5 or 6 ft. deep, or more. 

 The gardens thus get thorough washings more than 

 once during the rains. Being situated on river sides, 

 their soil naturally retains some moisture, even in the 

 dry season. Hence, perhaps, artificial irrigation 

 becomes unnecessary. The Khasias never irrigate 

 their orange gardens. They do not even water young 

 trees. They entirely depend upon nature here. When 

 questioned, they laughed at the idea of people making 

 orange gardens by irrigation. 



"Raising Plants. Seeds are taken out of mature 

 oranges in February and beginning of March. They 

 are well dried in the sun for two or three days.* A 



* There is a general notion that when orange and lemon seeds are 

 dried too much they don't germinate well. Is this so ? 



