ORANGE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 187 



viously stated. Its natural dwarfish habit is another objection 

 to it. It is thought that this will either dwarf the tree in a few 

 years, or fail to support the top loaded with fruit. It is unques- 

 tionably undesirable where high winds prevail to use the lime 

 or China lemon root as a stock on which to bud or graft the 

 orange. 



The seedling orange is now generally conceded to be the only 

 safe stock on which to work the orange or lemon. Its roots are 

 large, strong and healthy, and are intended by nature to support 

 a stately tree. It is seldom affected, if ever, with the gum dis- 

 ease, or any other disease. The orange has a truly natural 

 affinity upon this stock, and the lemon adapts itself congenially 

 and harmoniously to this stock. 



Lemon trees on orange roots are giving universal satisfaction. 

 It is claimed by some that the orange stock slightly diminishes 

 the quantity of acid in the lemon ; but this objection is of sec- 

 ondary importance as compared with the health and permanence 

 of the tree. 



The orange is in every respect a standard tree, and upon this 

 ground it is to be preferred. It is more hardy than the lemon 

 or lime, and for this reason alone it is decidedly preferable. 

 There are several instances on record in which the lemon has 

 succumbed to the unprecedentedly cold weather of the past two 

 winters, while the orange root, in the immediate vicinity, escaped 

 unharmed. Taking all these things into consideration, I un- 

 hesitatingly recommend the exclusive use of the orange root for 

 propagation. 



There are some who still contend for the China lemon root, 

 asserting that it is superior to all others, but they are vastly in 

 the minority. A few years hence, after the investigations of the 

 present shall have been more fully established, they, too, will 

 discard the lemon root, and accept the general decision that the 

 orange root is the best. 



The following is from a letter written by Ex-Gov. John G. 

 Downey, of Los Angeles, February igth, 1879, to Dr. J. R. 

 Crandall, of Auburn, Placer county : 



"The orange is a long-lived tree, as are all trees that are a 

 long time in maturing. This rule applies to the animal and 



