VI THE ORANGE 149 



roots the soil in the immediate vicinity of the stem must not 

 be stirred deeper than a few inches, except at intervals of a 

 year or so when careful pickaxing will do good. Between Deep tillage 

 the rows the deeper the tillage the better. On level land the row^^^" ^ ^ 

 plough may be run so as to form several furrows in the 

 centre of the lines, and it will prove advantageous if the sub- 

 soil be turned up at the same time. 



On many West Indian properties it is not practicable to 

 form a regular " orange grove " — which is the term applied 

 to the plantation ; but a great number of trees may be grown 

 along roads, and in odd corners of the property. The tree, The trees 

 as was pointed out, is a very firm rooter, and after the recent rooted^'n 

 hurricane in Dominica orange-trees were found standing the ground, 



° ° and thus 



erect, and almost unhurt, whilst other trees in the neighbour- withstand 

 hood were blown down or even torn up by the roots. The 

 stable nature of the trees may, therefore, be taken advan- 

 tage of by planting several rows of them wide apart through 

 coffee, cacao and other plantations, for in the event of hurri- 

 canes these belts will serve as sure protection. 



Manuring. — No other tree, perhaps, responds so readily 

 to judicious manuring as the orange. On poor soil with a 

 deficiency of vegetable matter, the tree will look sickly, its 

 leaves will be yellowish, and its crops small ; but the free 

 application of a nitrogenous manure will soon cause a won- Nitrogenous 

 derful alteration in the vigour of the tree, and the number of "lanures ^ 



° ' most benen- 



the fruit borne. When the young trees are well rooted and cial. 

 growing, the application of farm-yard or green crop manure 

 will push them on very much ; and when the trees are bear- The trees to 

 ing they should be manured every year. Guano and wood ^^ manured 



"^ ^ •' •' every year. 



ashes are sometimes used with success, and liquid manure 

 poured over the roots is most beneficial. Indeed, the soil 

 should be made as rich as possible, for the richer the soil the 

 greater the return. 



Catch Crops may be grown between the trees with ad- catch crops 

 vantage, for as the distances of planting are wideband as the mende?"'"" 



