CULTIVATION OF THE ORANGE TREE IN SPAIN. 551 



and when this is done they throw down the manure, which, if in small 

 quantity, is spread from the outside towards the trunk, or, if in large 

 quantity, all over the space between the ridges. As soon as the ma- 

 nure is properly distributed the ground is irrigated, care being taken 

 that the water enter gradually and equally, so as not to wash or carry 

 away the manure, but let it remain where put. At the proper season 

 the earth is burned over, and all thus mixed together. This latter sys- 

 tem is preferable to the former, inasmuch as the water commences to 

 dissolve the soluble portion of the manure, which thus at once pene- 

 trates the soil, and, the insoluble part being well soaked, is better mixed 

 afterwards with the earth. 



With reference to the first system, it frequently happens that the 

 manure is spread over spots not yet properly seasoned, and in this case 

 the surface manure or that at a small distance from the superficies is 

 destroyed by the rays of the sun, a loss which is avoided by employing 

 the second method. 



At the expiration of a month or month and a half, should it not have 

 rained and the weather continue fine, the orangery is again irrigated. 

 After watering at the proper season, two plowings are given to the 

 soil between the extremities of the branches of one tree and another, 

 care being taken that the plow does not touch or injure the branches, 

 and a good weeding is given to the ground round the trunk and under 

 the branches. There are some orangeries where the plow can not be 

 used on account of the trees being so thickly planted, the branches of 

 one tree almost touching those of its neighbor. In these cases the soil 

 is slightly dug up with a spade. This cultivation is continued through- 

 out the year till the month of October, when the orange (fruit) begins 

 to turn yellow, and then the plowing work is suppressed by many, who 

 only keep on weeding to keep the surface clean. At this period of the 

 year great care should be taken of the capillary roots, for if cut, the 

 tree suffers and the fruit falls off. 



The person who has to direct the cultivation of an orangery must 

 always be on the watch, both as regards the weather and the state of 

 seasoning of the soil. Should the earth be sufficiently moist, and there 

 be signs of wet weather, or it be thought that the ground can pass 

 some time longer without irrigating, this is not effected, and thus the 

 cultivator economizes the cost of the labor necessarily attendant after 

 each irrigation. Should the weather be cold the orchard is irrigated 

 if possible, and thus the trees do not suffer so much from it. Should a 

 period of dry weather be followed by a lowering of the temperature at 

 the time when the orange trees are not fully seasoned, the fruit is likely 

 to get frozen, and, to however little an extent this may occur, the orange 

 is useless for shipment. It is always advisable for the proprietor of an 

 orangery to have the irrigation done by a person that thoroughly under- 

 stands it, so that the water may only enter the field with the required 

 current, in order to prevent any of the surface soil being swept away, 

 156A 11 



