ORANGE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 19 



for the future success of the orchard depends on a bountiful 

 supply of water. My advice to all is, be sure you have an 

 ample supply of water where you locate your orchard, for, in 

 my opinion, the full measure of success can never be obtained 

 without it. If you succeed by thorough tillage, without water, 

 you will deserve to be envied ; but ample irrigating facilities 

 will be safe precautions, and will operate as an insurance policy 

 against unusual drought. 



I predict that the future orange orchards, famed for the 

 beauty and quality of their fruit, will be found on our high, dry 

 mesa lands, and that the product of the orchards of the valleys 

 and low lands will find a second place in the orange marts of 

 the world; hence take warning and start right by making a 

 careful selection of a site on which to plant your orange grove. 



In connection with this subject I append extracts from a dis- 

 cussion on the "Adaptability of Fruit Trees to the Soils," which 

 took place before the Southern California Horticultural Society, 

 at its April session, 1878. Dr. Congar made the following 

 opening remarks, in substance : 



The importance of adaptability of soil to tree and plant life 

 was little understood. The propagation of fruit trees so as to 

 insure them the best possible conditions was a most difficult 

 undertaking. The soil must, of course, receive our first consid- 

 eration ; for to that alone in condition the seed and plant owe 

 their sustenance. Too much stress has no doubt been laid 

 upon the function of the leaf to supply the future tree in its un- 

 foldment with the elements oxygen, carbon and nitrogen. All 

 of these elements, and also others entering into tree structure, 

 are undoubtedly carried up from the soils in a greater or less 

 degree as nutriment. The sodas, potashes, magnesias, irons, 

 acids, etc., found in tree substance are gathered up by the roots, 

 and are composed largely of oxygen and carbon ; therefore it is 

 but fair to conclude that these two most important elements 

 contributing to the growth are not wholly absorbed by the 

 leaves of the tree or plant. Observation has led him to study 

 his soil closely, for he has found great variation within a com- 

 paratively small area. Even within a few square rods marked 

 differences will manifest themselves in the vigor and general 



