536 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



Thus it is that in other parts (Castellon de la Plana), where the soil 

 is most compact, the growth is slower ; in years when there is a scarcity 

 of water and the orchards are not irrigated at the proper season, the 

 earth becomes so compact as to prevent the growth of the small life- 

 giving roots, besides depriving them of the beneficial effect of the at- 

 mospheric air, and as these roots cannot then properly nourish the trees, 

 the latter, little by little, harden, or, in other words, the trunk and 

 branches lose the green color they should have, which manifests the 

 abundance of sap contained by them, and which is what preserves them 

 tender, a thing so necessary for their growth. 



From the preceding it will be seen that it is necessary to well examine 

 the soil (should one have the idea of converting it into an orange gar- 

 den) before incurring any expense, not only examining the surface, but 

 also the subsoil, as there may be some parts where the soil is loose and 

 of good quality on the surface, but very compact and bad beneath, or 

 vice versa. By attending to this the proprietor will know what may be 

 expected from said ground and to what cultivation it would be advisa- 

 ble to dedicate it. 



PROPAGATION. 



Orange trees may be propagated the same as any other fruit 

 tree, either from seed, whichis the natural way of multiplication, or 

 from cuttings, which is artificial. The first system, viz, from seed, 

 perpetuates the species and gives origin to new descriptions, afterwards 

 improved by cultivation. The second method, either from shoots, cut- 

 tings, or grafting, continues the race and at the same time accelerates the 

 fruitage, which is always later with the trees produced by the first- 

 named system, but in exchange the trees raised from seed are more ro- 

 bust and live to a much greater age. The oldest orange trees found^n 

 this province clearly demonstrate that the primitive trees were raised 

 from seed. The sweet orange does not thrive well when raised from 

 shoots, and in order to obtain a good result it is necessary to recur to 

 tightly bandaging them so as to favor the accumulation of juices, which 

 contribute to the acceleration of the unfolding of the underground 

 shoots. The bitter orange is more easily cultivated. 



The following means have been employed, and are still being ised, as 

 by the same froudose trees, bearing a large quantity of fruit, and this 

 of good quality, are obtained. Said means are these : First, a flower- 

 pot is obtained, composed of two pieces, which can be easily fastened 

 together either with wire or strong twine passed round them at the top 

 and also at the bottom. Then some straight branches of about the 

 thickness of two fingers must be selected, and if said branches are very 

 long they should be cut down to the length of 1 meters ; then the part 

 that has to be placed in the center of the flower-pots is barked all round 

 for about 1J inches, and immediately bound up with esparto-grass cord- 

 ing. As soon as this is done the flower-pots are put together and filled 



