ORANGE CULTURE IX CALIFORNIA. 163 



"Many authors tell us the original apple was an Egyptian 

 crab a fruit of so abominable a nature we can readily under- 

 stand how it came to stick in Adam's throat, and refuse to go 

 down. We are caused no little thought over the natural per- 

 versity of woman, who would barter all the joys of a Garden of 

 Eden for a taste of .a crab apple! 



"From this stock as a basis horticultural science, with na- 

 ture's assistance, has given us all the varieties of magnificent 

 apples we enjoy to-day. The orchardist, with his grafting knife, 

 joins a small scion from four to six inches long to a shorter 

 piece of root, always obtaining the same variety as that of the 

 scion used. 



"Surely there can be no one at all acquainted with the orange, 

 or who has closely observed the products of his tress, that has 

 not noticed a marked difference in the fruits, even of a small 

 orchard of seedlings. Some trees are bound to produce better 

 oranges than others, with the same care and cultivation. If we 

 select and perpetuate the fittest of the apple, peach, etc., why 

 not pursue the same course with the orange? I say, unhesi- 

 tatingly, we have no marked difference in the orange family, in 

 the general laws governing and directing all trees. 



"I believe a recent French author, whose work I have not had 

 an opportunity to read, claims to have made a specialty of the 

 study of the habits and conditions affecting all the species of 

 the citrus family. I think I am correct in saying that his prin- 

 cipal objection to budding is that it has a tendency to dwarf the 

 size of the trees and diminish their productive powers. This 

 may be a strong objection in countries in which the soil and 

 climate may not be so favorable as our own, and in which the 

 tendency is to underbear. The tree almost invariably overloads 

 with fruit with us, and, consequently, fails to grow them all 

 large ; hence no stronger argument than the preceding can be 

 used in favor of budding. Let us adopt and pursue a policy or 

 process that will give us fewer in numbers, but larger and better 

 in quality, then we can always command the orange market. 



"The time is not far distant when the production of oranges 

 will be enormous in this country; when other markets will have 

 to be sought to consume our surplus. We can then hope to 



