Ranches. This was of exactly a similar character to our Karoo 

 manure, and was of the value there of i per wagon load. Ten 

 years ago, when we spent some time in investigating the present 

 position of citrus culture throughout Central and Southern Cali- 

 fornia, we learned that the commercial fertilizers were alone used 

 with uniform success and in enormous quantities. 



The main needs of an orchard are lime, potash, phosphate, 

 and nitrogen, in quantities varying according to the character of 

 the soil and its component parts. It is impossible to lay down a 

 hard and fast rule as to what to apply and in w r hat quantity ; this 

 must necessarily be left to the intelligence of the individual 

 grower. 



Farm\ard manure is recognised as a complete fertilizer, as it 

 contains all the ingredients necessary for a successful orchard- 

 ing. It should never be applied green and fresh, as it contains an 

 excess of ammonia, and we have seen orchards seriously injured 

 by its application in this condition. It has been determined that 

 it should be stored in a pit with impervious walls and sides, and 

 that it should be thoroughly compacted and kept \vell moist. New 

 stable manure should under no circumstances ever be applied to 

 a newly-planted tree. If the soil in which young trees are to be 

 planted is of such poor quality, either naturally or by being im- 

 poverished by frequent cropping, that manure is at once necessary ; 

 ahvays have it applied a few months before the trees are to be 

 planted, and see that it is thoroughly incorporated w r ith the soil. 



The main sources of phosphates are bone manure, which is 

 of the greatest value for young trees. Personally, w r e prefer the 

 ground bone to the chemically dissolved ; the latter, however, acts 

 more quickly, in fact, almost at once after application. The 

 coarser the grade of bone meal the longer it takes to act on trees 

 and the earlier it should be applied in the winter, and in the case 

 of fine ground or chemically-prepared bone meal. w r e should apply 

 it shortly before the growth for the season commences. 



It should, of course, be understood by planters, that for 

 manure of any sort water is needed to bring it into such soluble 

 condition that it can be used by the trees, and it is no earthly use 

 applying it during the dry season unless irrigation water is to 

 follow it. 



Superphosphate, a very quick acting phosphatic manure of 

 considerable value and the highest grade is always the cheapest, 

 o\ving to heavy saving in railway freights. 



Basic Slag and Thomas Phosphate. We have used these 

 with excellent results for some years. They are not so quick- 

 acting as finely-ground bone and superphosphate, and we apply 

 with the early rains. 



Potash supplies are procured mainly from Muriate of Potash, 

 Sulphate of Potash and Kainit. The two former contain a far 



