408 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



different orange orchards, resulting in quite an improvement in the 

 quality and flavor of the fruit over the old orange-producing trees in 

 the country ; other varieties are of limited production, such as man- 

 darin, pear and king orange and not of sufficient quantity for export. 



The citrus family comprises here six species fruitful and profitable 

 for cultivation. Citron, shaddock (torouja), large lemons, limes (citrus 

 limetta) lima, sweet lime, king orange. The lima chichona, or sweo 

 teat lime, weighs commonly from 12 to 14 ounces and is very delicious. 

 The king orange is the production of an orange tree, a young shoot 

 grafted into a sweet lime tree and in time from that to a shaddock or 

 torouja, and finally a shoot from this last is again grafted on a common 

 orange tree. Each of the orange fruit weighs from 4 to 5 pounds, and 

 are of very delicate and sweet flavor and also exempt from acid. 



Situation. The locations where the trees grow are San Antonio, San 

 Jos6, and La Paz. San Antonio is 56 miles from the sea ; the other 

 places are ports of entry. 



Elevation of the first-named town, 1,200 feet; the other two are in a 

 level valley, all fully exposed to the sun. 



Level land is best. The soil here is alluvial, sandy, and the subsoil 

 within four feet under is of clay and gravel. 



Temperature. The average temperature is 85, minimum 60, maxi- 

 mum 93, Fahr. During winter nights are lightly cold, never warm, 

 but quite warin during the day. In summer, sultry days very seldom 

 and the atmosphere generally very clear. 



Bain commences in July and ends in October, in time to assist the 

 growth progress of fruit. 



Irrigation. Irrigation is practiced all the year round. The citrus 

 family have to be watered every three or four days, and give them as 

 much water as possible. 



Cultivation. Young trees are transplanted in the month of Septem- 

 ber, and also in February, and the cleaning of trees takes place in De- 

 cember. 



Fertilizers. Cow and other manure is used as fertilizer, but in set- 

 ting young trees a circular hole is excavated of 4 feet diameter and of 

 3 or 4 feet depth, and about a 4-iiich layer of old cattle bones is put 

 down, and on the top of it another 6 inches of clay, and after another 

 6 inches of manure, and following common soil. The tree is set on 

 the top of that. The best results have been obtained that way. 



Pruning. First remove the inner superfluous shoots living at the ex- 

 pense of the sap of the tree, and cut all other unnecessary branches to 

 allow circulation of air. It is evidently proved that the tree should be 

 allowed its full growth from ground. It is best either to protect it from 

 hot breezes or from the heat of the soil, and even from frost, as gen- 

 erally the upper part only suffers, and the rest of the tree is fully pro- 

 tected. 



picking of oranges takes place early in. 



