VI THE ORANGE 151 



borne annually by the trees. In the Azores and in Florida, 

 these figures are much exceeded, and in the West Indies 

 from 3,000 to 8,000 oranges are not uncommonly gathered 

 from single trees. As many as 14,000 have been taken off ^^ominica 

 large trees in Dominica, and 8,000 are a common yield in 

 that fertile island. 



In gathering the oranges, particular care must be taken Gathering 

 not to bruise the fruit, as one bruised orange will often cause ^ '^•'^"g^s. 

 all the other oranges packed in the same box to become 

 rotten. Ladders must be used for tall trees and the stalks 

 must be cut, for to tear the fruit off the trees is to run the 

 risk of serious loss. Oranges gathered with a portion (about 

 a quarter of an inch) of the stem attached are called " stem- 

 cut ''' oranges. These keep better than others and always 

 fetch a higher price. 



Enemies to the Orange Tree.— The orange, like most 

 other cultivated plants, has its enemies, but, fortunately, in 

 the West Indies, these are neither numerous nor formidable. 

 The most important is the scale insect or coccus, which if The scale 

 left to itself may kill out the young trees and prevent the '^ ^' 

 fruitfulness of the matured ones. It may, however, be got 

 rid of by brushing the stem and branches with a solution of 

 whale-oil soap in water, to which a small quantity of kerosine 

 oil has been added. A decoction of tobacco, beaten up with Insecticides, 

 carbolic soap so as to form suds, is also a valuable insecticide 

 if it be brushed over the bark of the trees and allowed to 

 dry on. And to paint or syringe the trees with wood ashes 

 and water, or with white-wash made into a thin fluid, very 

 frequently destroys blights both animal and vegetable. The 

 rust on the oranges is caused by an insect blight which may Rust, 

 be killed out by dusting quick-lime over the trees, it being 

 usually sufficient to stand under the tree and to throw up the 

 lime in handfuls when the leaves are moistened by dew or 

 by light showers, but particular care must be taken that 

 none of the lime gets into the eyes of the operator. 



