432 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



from 8 to 30 feet in height, according to the attention given to their 

 culture. They commence bearing the fourth year and hold their own 

 for fifty years or even more. Their fruit is very sweet, with a fine deli- 

 cate acid, thin pulp. When taken medium care of the trees produce 

 abundantly, say 1,000 to 1,500 oranges to each tree. These are planted 

 from seeds, say the pit of the fruit, grafting, or budded, but the seeds 

 give better results. The seed should be dried in the air without expos- 

 ure to the sun or artificial heat. The trees are very seldom troubled 

 with disease, unless entirely neglected, when they are subjected to a 

 sickness called " piojillo," similar to a white mold dampness, which 

 spreads over the leaves, branches, and trunk of the trees. Whitewash, 

 with lime, and ashes at the roots of the trees produce the desired effect. 



The trees are planted about eight yards apart. Any closer the trees 

 are not so productive. 



This island being very fertile, orchards are to be found in all parts of 

 it, from close to the sea-shore, say about a mile distant from the coast, 

 up to the interior, and up the mountains as high as 2,500 feet above the 

 level of the sea. It is noticed that all kinds of trees produce well, and 

 are much finer in sandy soils, say about a mile or two from the sea,, 

 where the soil consists of black sand, or about three parts of fine sand 

 and one part of black earth, with a bottom of hard clay at from 3 to 

 4 feet below the surface. Most of the orchards are situated from 2 to 5 

 miles from the sea-coast. 



There is no system of irrigation in use, the periodical rains being 

 quite sufficient. The ground in orchards is often cultivated with rice, 

 corn, beans, etc., but more of them with grass. The trees are poorly 

 attended in this district, and in all the east end of the island, very little 

 fruit being raised for export. In fact, so little attention is given to the 

 culture that it may be considered that the orange as well as other fruits 

 are growing in their wild state. 



In the west end of the island, more particularly in the district of 

 Mayaguez, oranges and pineapples are cultivated for exportation to the 

 United States ; quite a number of American schooners come out during 

 the months of November and December in ballast from Boston and 

 New York, and load with fruit. I can not state definitely the yield of 

 the trees, but each tree is calculated to give from 1,000 to 1,500 oranges, 

 which sell readily at $.3.25 per thousand. I 



The cost of cultivation is very little. The crop commences in this 

 district in December and lasts until May. When proper care is taken, 

 however, it is most common to have the trees with ripe and green fruit 

 growing at the same time. Oranges are to be had all the year round, 

 but from May to November in less abundance. 



As this island is situated between 17 and 18 of latitude north, there 

 is no great change in the temperature. During the winter months it 

 rains almost continually, but the thermometer seldom indicates less than 

 75 Fahr. ; so there is no frost ever feared. The want of roads all over 



