452 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



anna (say 3 cents) per 1,000 gallons for 30 feet in depth. The water is 

 led into small surface channels having a slope of 1 in 1,000, and from 

 the channels into beds extending round the tree as far as the expanse 

 of the branches. Into those beds 1 to 2 inches of water is led once in 

 ten days during the absence of sufficient rains, so the soil is kept moist 

 from the flowering time till the fruit is all gathered. 



Cultivation. The soil is kept clean and open by plowing or digging 

 with a pick, 4 inches deep, twice yearly. For the crop that ripens dur- 

 ing February April water is withheld and the soil opened up during 

 April and May. The soil is at the same time drawn away and the 

 roots exposed during fifteen to twenty days. At this time the greater 

 part of the leaves fall off, then 100 pounds weight per tree of old, moist 

 cow-dung is mixed with the soil and the roots covered up and watered 

 heavily, if rain does not fall soon ; this causes the trees to burst into 

 bloom and fresh leaves ; thereafter the soil is kept moist till the fruit is 

 gathered. The same operation carried on in December brings ripe fruit 

 during December and February following. 



Pruning. This extends to clearing away suckers from below the 

 graft and cutting out weakly and defective shoots only ; excessive prun- 

 ing must be avoided, as it tends to make the plant run to wood and pre- 

 vents flowering. 



Picking. The fruit continues to attain full development during a 

 month from each break of trees that has been started into growth to- 

 gether, and is picked over at intervals of a few days. A faint trace of 

 yellow in the skin of the fruit indicates maturity. When fresh from the 

 tree this fruit has a delightful piquancy that is to a great extent lost by 

 the fruit being packed up closely for a few weeks, but the fruit remains 

 in good condition about two months if not closely packed. 



Curing, Xo special curing is given unless the fruit has been gathered 

 unripe. In that case it is packed with fine hay and kept close in a box 

 for a few days. Such fruit is always inferior. 



Packing. In packing 30 to 40 pounds weight of oranges are placed in 

 very slim baskets, without any packing material, and the lid tied down. 

 None of the fruit is shipped as merchandise, as the demand in the large 

 cities exceeds the supply. 



Planting and propagating. The trees are planted 12 feet apart each 

 way, except for Ladoo, which is given 18 feet apart. 



Grafting or seedling. Seeds of Citrus medica, (Jambooree), a large 

 coarse citron of vigorous habit, are sown, and when the stocks are two 

 to three years old are budded. In budding one vertical slit in the bark 

 only is made and the branch bent towards the slit so as to make it gape 

 open 5 into the gape the bud is inserted and the branch released ; it 

 then springs back and closes in the bud which is tied with a strip of 

 fiber. Occjisionnlly the sweet lime (Citrus limetha] is used as ;i stock, 

 and is believed by some to insure more sweetness in the fruit. The 

 best varieties jire invariably budded, as seedlings take so long to pro- 

 duce fruit as to be practically useless in fruit growing. 



