420 Transactions of the American Institute. 



Dr. F. M. Hexamer — The only reason why ashes are of less use on 

 light soils, is because such soils do not retain manure so long as 

 heavy clay soils. They need manure to be applied every year, and 

 this increased expense is more than counterbalanced by the greater 

 ease in working a light soil ; with this allowance, ashes are as useful 

 on a sandy soil as on a clay soil. But I object to the sweeping state- 

 ments of Prof. Nash. The truth is that ashes are soon lost on sand, 

 and are kept near the roots of plants for many years by a tenacious 

 soil. 



Okange-growing in Louisiana. 



Mr. J. II. Jones, New Orleans — I have been engaged for several 

 years past in trying what can be done in planting and cultivating 

 orange trees in this State, believing it more profitable, and the trees 

 subject to less casualties and diseases than any other fruit tree raised 

 in the country. Several years ago we purchased a tract of land hav- 

 ing about 125 acres suitable for the raising of orange trees. At this 

 time we have about 100 acres set out with 9,000 trees — the oldest 

 trees being nine years old last spring, and the youngest two years old 

 from the seed. We have twenty-five acres of land left suitable for 

 orange trees, and about seventy-five acres of good land for rice culture, 

 which is a profitable crop in this part of Louisiana. As the place now 

 stands, it has cost about $50,000, with its buildings, fences, ditches, etc. 

 We are now taking off the third crop of oranges, which has doubled 

 each year since they began to bear. The place has not paid its expen- 

 ses any year yet unless it does this year, which we cannot know until 

 we get the returns from the present crop, which we are now shipping 

 to St. Louis, Louisville, Cincinnati, Nashville and some smaller west- 

 ern cities, omitting Chicago this year. We expect, in a few years, our 

 orchard will yield large returns for our outlay, as we find that the 

 crops around us, where the trees are in full bearing, are sold to the 

 fruit dealers at an average price of $1,000 per acre of 90 to 100 trees. 

 So far we have done much better, in proportion to our crop, by. send- 

 ing them to market ourselves. Two years ago I gathered from one 

 tree, seven years old, three barrels of oranges, and there might have 

 been a very few more had as many. Some trees of the same age had 

 none. Trees do not generally have any crop worth marketing until 

 they are eight years old, and from my observation they bear as much 

 fruit at twenty as they ever will. I have seen trees in bearing from 

 five to fifty years old, but have never seen any more fruit on any than 

 those at twenty. The orange tree rarely fails of a crop. I know of 



