PREFACE. 



For a number of years I have thought of putting my ex- 

 tensive practical experience in citrus culture into book form, 

 and now, at the earnest request of numerous friends, I shall, 

 for the benefit of those who are seeking information in semi- 

 tropical fruit culture, proceed to carry my purpose into effect, 

 hoping that this will be a profitable guide to this most inter- 

 esting and remunerative industry. 



A residence of twenty-eight years in this State, the last six- 

 teen of which have been devoted exclusively and uninterruptedly 

 to semi-tropical orcharding and nursery business, enables me 

 to write from a practical standpoint possessed by few. A lover 

 by nature of the beautiful in horticulture, I have applied myself 

 assiduously to assist in developing the latent interests of the 

 business of citrus culture, by endeavoring to procure the best of 

 the different species, by propagating and experimenting on a 

 large scale, and carefully noting the different varieties. The 

 field has been and still is wide and ample. However much I 

 may have learned, I feel that we are only on the threshold of 

 learning what are the most successful conditions for the profit- 

 able citrus culture of the future. 



I shall endeavor to present the subject in as brief a form as 

 possible consistent with the many ramifications of the business, 

 using no technical phrases, the object being to adapt the work 

 to the understanding of all that may at any time be engaged in 

 the business. 



