472 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



afford the stems the necessary protection from the sun, removing them 

 as the trees increase in size. In training trees of the citrus family, it 

 is desirable that the branches hang to witlr.u about 2 feet of the ground, 

 so as to protect the trunks from the heat of the sun in summer. It is 

 not an uncommon thing for trees to be trained high, so that horse-power 

 cultivators can be used close to the stem, but Mr. Oichton says the 

 practice is bad, and he is of opinion that the cracking or discoloration 

 of the bark, which is so common in this part of the world in orange and 

 other fruit trees, is caused by the sap fermenting through the action of 

 the sun. By training the head low there will be no trouble caused by 

 the exposure of the trunks. Besides, trees with low heads are less 

 liable to suffer from high winds. It is not advisable to let young orange 

 trees bear too freely. The growth of wood in young trees is the chief 

 consideration. Trees should be five years 'old before they are allowed 

 to bear heavy crops, as by that time they will have attained a fair 

 amount of growth. 



It is said to be highly important that the trees should be placed in a 

 position where their roots will not be subject to extremes of drought or 

 excessive moisture or to sudden changes in temperature. The remedy 

 for this is first by trenching and draining the ground thoroughly so as 

 to secure the most perfect root bed, and then by mulching the surface 

 soil, so as to shelter it from the full power of the sun and drying winds. 

 The temperature in deeply- worked and well-drained land is higher in 

 winter and lower in summer than in shallow or undrained soil. Nor is 

 the land so readily affected by atmospheric changes. 



PICKING AND PACKING. 



Oranges and lemons are picked from April to November. The plan 

 is to leave them on the trees until they arc ripe, or nearly so. The most 

 experienced growers cut them from the stems instead of pulling them, 

 although the latter method is mostly pursued. Care is taken not to 

 pick the fruit in damp or wet weather, and not to put them in boxes 

 until they are free from moisture. The oranges packed by Mr. E. B. 

 Cairnes at Paramatta for the London market turned out very well for 

 trial shipments. The fruit was wrapped in tissue paper, put in boxes 

 of uniform size, and subjected to but little pressure in nailing on the 

 covers. 



Mr. Cairnes states that before the export of fruit can prove a profit- 

 able industry for long distances better provisions than exist at pres- 

 ent will have to be made for the care of the fruit during the voyage. 

 Even temperature is required while in transit, and the fruit ought not 

 to be subjected to either extreme of heat or cold. 



CURING. 



Very little has been done in the way of curing citrus fruits in Aus- 

 tralia. Citron is not put up for sale, and the small quantities made are 

 only for families for their own private use. 



