28 



THE CUBA REVIEW 



AGRICULTURAL NOTES 



THE CHOICE OF FERTILIZER 



As far as I can learn there has been 

 but little variation in fertilization of the 

 citrus family. The same composition has 

 been used for lemons as for oranges or 

 grapefruit. A fertilizer which is good 

 for an orange will kill a lemon and vice 

 versa. If you wish sweet fruits j^ou must 

 use one mixture ; if tart fruits, another. 

 The citrus fruit tree is a delicate proposi- 

 tion and one must move along a certain 

 line with considerable exactness to get 

 gilt-edged results. It can be done and 

 man}' are doing it in Florida and Cali- 

 fornia. It can never be done by rule of 

 thumb methods. Any one can raise man-' 

 goes. If holes are dug in the pine woods 

 and the trees set and Avatered the first 

 year and fire is kept away, as fine a 

 mango grove will be grown as can be done 

 with all the care one can give the same 

 trees, but it would take longer by two 

 or three years. The only use of fer- 

 tilizing and mulching the mango is to 

 accelerate its growth. The avocado, on the 

 other hand, must be carei ^^or aU the tmie 

 and mulched to get good results, but the 

 nice adjustments required by the citrus 

 tree are unnecessary. — Isaiah L. Roberts 

 in Isle of Pines Appeal 



A LONG KEEPING ORANGE 



John Craig, secretary of the American 

 Pomological Society, reports that a silver 

 medal has been awarded to a new variety 

 of orange, known as the Lue Gim Gong, 

 which variety, when it came into fruit, 

 showed decided evidences of superiority to 

 the Harts late variety, at this time the 

 standard late orange in Florida. Com- 

 parison in shipping showed that of five 

 Ijoxes of Harts late sent to Massachusetts, 

 only three were in salable condition after 

 repacking, and these sold for $2.50 per 

 box. On the other hand, five boxes of 

 the Lue Gim Gong did not require repack- 

 ing on arrival and brought a price of $4.50 

 per box. 



The new variety is hardy and thrifty, 

 hangs on the tree during the rainy season 

 in Florida without damage. 



Authorities say the new variety marks 

 the beginning of a new era in late orange 

 culture, as it can be marketed to advan- 

 tage in August and September. 



Its keeping quality is most marked, and 

 it holds its juices while on the tree for 

 thirty months. 



A full description and history of this 

 variety appears in the report of the Amer- 

 ican Pomological Society covering the pro- 

 ceedings of the Florida meeting. This 



variety is unique in its keeping qualities. 

 The writer within a few weeks has exam- 

 ined specimens of the fruitage of 1908 

 and found them in edible condition. These 

 had clung to the tree since that time. They 

 had become somewhat overgrown and 

 slightly rough, and had lost a good deal 

 of the juice, but were not vastly inferior 

 to many of the store oranges for which 

 we are accustomed to pay thirty or forty 

 cents per dozen. 



IRRIGATION FOR ORCHARDS 



The proper use of water means the sup- 

 plying of the optimum amount for tree 

 development. This means the proper 

 guarding against an oversupply as well 

 as an undersupply. To be properly posted 

 on what constitutes the right amount a 

 knowledge of the soil is necessary. With 

 a combination of a soil auger, a little 

 careful observation and common sense, 

 proper irrigation offers no very intricate 

 problems. Each orchard, however, must 

 be worked out individually, for from only 

 a study of the soil before and after irri- 

 gating can the proper amounts and times 

 for applying water be determined. 



The need of water can be determined 

 by both the appearance of the trees and the 

 soil. A slackening in growth and a dark- 

 ening in color of the foliage are indica- 

 tions. But as the water should not fall 

 below a point to create appearances in the 

 tree a careful watch must be kept on the 

 soil itself. When on being pressed to- 

 gether, a handful holds its shape without 

 coaxing it is sufficiently moist, and no 

 water need be given. Care, however, 

 should be exercised to see that the proper 

 degree of moisture exists the full depth 

 of the soil. — R. L. Adams in the Irrigator. 



PINEAPPLE EXPORTS AND COSTS 



From January 1st to May 27th the total 

 number of crates exported amounted to 

 559,639 crates, while the statement corre- 

 sponding to the week ending ]May 21, 1910, 

 shows that only 395,234 crates had been 

 shipped. 



Reports from the country are that the 

 crop this 3'ear will be one of the largest 

 and in reference to size and quality the 

 statement is that the fruit is striking the 

 average. 



Exporters this year are standing a bit 

 more of expense in connection with the 

 package, owing to the added import tax 

 placed on crates under the port improve- 

 ment act, The extra expense falls on 

 the shippers. 



