544 * FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



the heat of the sun, besides which one can work better. The grafts 

 should be tied with esparto grass, this being found much better than 

 other strings or cords by reason of the less damage it causes to the 

 bark, besides which it better protects it. It remains in this state for 

 twenty-one days, and if at the end of this time the bud continues green 

 the grafting is correct, in which case the shoot is cut off about four inches 

 above, and it at once moves if it has dried. Sometimes it commences 

 moving before the grafting has thoroughly taken place, in which case it 

 is immediately cut, although the twenty-one days may not have expired. 

 As soon as the shooting commences, cut the esparto on the opposite 

 side if there is only one bud, or at the sides if there are two, but do 

 not take it off. It is calculated that about three hundred can be grafted 

 daily, and when the grafting is done in fine weather it is much better, 

 but it does not matter if done when raining, as neither through rains 

 iior irrigation have the grafts been lost, although there are some who do 

 not irrigate until at least twelve days after grafting. The four inches 

 of stem which remain above the graft, and which served as a support 

 for the growing shoot, are cut off at the end of a year and before re- 

 moving the plants from the nursery. 



The proprietors taking but little care in providing themselves with 

 good seed on grafting, and the grafter, whose only aspiration is to ob- 

 tain his day's pay, taking everything that comes nearest to hand and 

 costs him least trouble, it frequently happens that fatal results are the 

 consequence. The same recklessness is noted, with those who purchase 

 orange trees already grafted and who take no trouble to ascertain their 

 origin, etc. For the preceding reasons it is not surprising to see sickly 

 orange trees in all directions, and others, although sound, producing 

 but little fruit and this of bad quality, thus occasioning a heavy loss 

 to the imprudent and careless proprietors, which they could have easily 

 prevented if they had not overlooked that the grafts inherit the good 

 and bad qualities of the tree which produced them, as also of its state 

 of sickness or disease as also of its healthy condition ; thus it happens 

 that in a small field of only six hanegadas of loose earth, and the whole 

 subject to the same cultivation, in which, by reason of the carelessness 

 of the owner, there are three descriptions of orange trees, each of dif- 

 ferent merit , there are some that give a flat fruit with a fine skin or 

 peel ; others that are round and with a finer peel than the preceding, 

 with abundant flesh and as juicy as the former but sweeter ; and, lastly, 

 there are others the oranges of which are very coarse and less esteemed 

 by exporters. 



TRANSPLANTING. 



The tree lives, strikes root or the contrary, is more or less well 

 formed, gives better or worse fruit, according to how the plantation 

 may have been more or less carefully attended to, the health and du- 

 ration of the plant being also subordinate to this operation. The 



