State was developed and the transfort of fruit to northern mar- 

 kets became a fact, were found to pay well. Thereupon land 

 speculators and others boomed the country as an orange growing 

 country, and the boom took on. People rushed to the conclusion 

 that because orange trees in old orchards thrive in certain dis- 

 tricts, that large stretches of country were equally suited, conse- 

 quently trees were planted out by thousands in districts that might 

 not perhaps catch a frost in ten years. We see the same result 

 in a different direction resulting from Uitlander enterprise in the 

 Transvaal. Millions of blue gum have been planted because they 

 are quick growing ; we ourselves have seen hundreds of acres 

 of them destroyed by frost ; we believe it is now recognised that 

 a hardier tree is required. Therefore let us use the data which 

 is before our eyes over the country, and recognise that the limit 

 of citrus culture is in no particular area of altitude or otherwise, 

 but that right through the whole country, regardless of the general 

 conditions prevailing in the district, there are sheltered spots 

 eminently suited for our purpose, many of which have already 

 been located for us. Given a site where temperature is right and 

 also a water supply, the next point to consider is the character of 

 the soil. There are no two opinions on this point. Citrus trees 

 to grow healthy and live long (in other words, to pay well) must 

 be planted on well drained soil ; personally we infinitely prefer 

 soil naturally well drained : in fact, a naturally dry soil which is 

 of such a character that it readily accepts water into its depth. 

 Of such class of soils there are hundreds of thousands of acres 

 in South Africa provided the necessary water could be brought 

 into them in sufficient quantities for practical purposes. We 

 should always avoid sites which are naturally moist and wet, as 

 the trees will never give satisfaction in such a location. We re- 

 member a noteworthy case in point. The late Mr. Rhodes some 

 sixteen years ago despatched a consignment of orange trees to 

 Rhodesia to be distributed for planting ; a couple of hundred 

 were planted on his own farm in the Matoppos, the only water 

 supply there at that time being a windmill pump, delivering the 

 water into tubs. The well had as usual been sunk in the part 

 of the farm which showed indications of being the wettest, and 

 the trees were planted in a couple of acres of land adjoining the 

 well, so that they would be handy for watering by means of the 

 barrels, which were, we believe, placed on a sledge for this pur- 

 pose, the idea, of course, being that by placing them near the 

 water they would be less likely to suffer, consequently they were 

 standing in soil where we feel certain they would not do them- 

 selves or indeed anybody else credit. Here is the point in plant- 

 ing citrus orchards : don't take your trees to the water, but lead 

 r \<our water to the trees. 



