ORANGE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 21 



much of the objection to the clayey soil would be removed ; but, 

 unfortunately, here lies the difficulty. Another objection is, that 

 a soil so tenacious of water excludes the air in a great degree. 

 Probably few have failed to observe the great difference in the 

 facility with which soils part with their moisture. The sandy 

 soils give it up most readily, of course, while the heavy or clayey 

 soils are most obstinate. As he had no land for sale, and was 

 not interested in any real estate agency, he thought he would 

 be permitted to observe, in this connection, that the reason ot 

 the thrifty appearance of the trees and the vegetation generally 

 on the sandy loams of Pasadena is owing solely, no doubt, to the 

 great depth of those soils without hard-pan or clayey subsoils. 

 Similar results may be anticipated throughout all dry countries 

 wherever nature's dynamics have given us such a geological 

 formation one that allows all the rain to percolate to an un- 

 known depth, to be restored again to the surface during the 

 heated season by capillary attraction. The clayey soils are 

 unquestionably the richest soils we have in vegetable matter 

 a very essential constituent. But its presence is not sufficient 

 to insure success to the cultivation of the citrus family for the 

 reasons already given. 



To a question relative to orange trees near Anaheim, situated 

 as they are in an alkali soil, with water within five or six feet of 

 the surface, Dr. Congar replied : 



"Orange trees in so close proximity to water would of neces- 

 sity sustain themselves from a superabundance of surface roots, 

 as it would not be possible for radical roots to exist. It would 

 be impossible to decide as to their future, the presumption being 

 that they would not reach a very great age, although productive 

 for a time of a class of fruit inferior in keeping qualities and 

 fine, delicate flavor. The quantity of alkali in the soil, as well 

 as its character, would be an important factor in determining 

 its effect upon the tree and its fruit." He alluded to the early 

 fruiting tendency of unforced orange trees, and strongly favored 

 this method rather than the forced method generally practiced. 



Mr. T. A. Garey, the author, found that trees on land where 

 the hard-pan lay only from a foot to eighteen inches from the 

 surface were inclined to fruit early. The trees appear to do 



