272 Culture of the Orange and Lemon. 



manures, which I shall next proceed to, because these in- 

 gredients of soils are strictly artificial or adventitious. It is 

 certain that a soil is often considered unproductive, and that 

 unproductiveness attributed to some deficiency in its staple, 

 which is caused by erroneous management. I have before 

 stated an instance of taprooted plants being produced of 

 superior size and form, by means of applying the manure deep 

 beneath the surface. In another instance, some parsneps being 

 of necessity sown in a poor soil, having turned in some ma- 

 nure by trenching full 12 in. deep, I would not allow any to 

 be applied to the surface ; but, at the time of thinning, I set half 

 the bed out at an average of 12 in. distance between each 

 plant, the other half at 9 in. : when taken up for storing, the 

 whole were alike perfectly fusiform, but those grown at 

 12 in. apart were the finest, as 4^ to 3. If manure had been 

 applied to the surface, the fibrous roots, I calculated, would 

 be multiplied at the expense of the caudex, to its much greater 

 detriment, than by making the few usually produced by this 

 root extend in length by enlarging the circuit of their pastur- 

 age. Again, a more siliceous darker-coloured soil should be 

 employed for the growth of an early crop of any given plant, 

 than is required by the main crop ; because such soil will 

 more readily get rid of the superfluous moisture, and acquire 

 a more genial warmth, two great desiderata for vegetation in 

 early spring. On the contrary, in autumn, for a late crop of 

 peas for instance, the soil should be more aluminous ; because, 

 in August, September, &c, atmospheric moisture, in the form 

 of night dews, abounds, the foliage is therefore perpetually 

 subject to alternate extremes of moisture and dryness, whilst 

 the root is liable to a state of exceeding drought : the soil, 

 therefore, should be rich, kept in a minute state of division by 

 frequent hoeing, that moisture may be absorbed, and more 

 aluminous, that such moisture may be retained. 



( To be continued.) 



Art. III. On the Culture and Propagation of the Genus 

 Citrus. By an Amateur. 



Sir, 

 Should you consider the following remarks relative to the 

 culture and propagation of the genus Citrus, made from prac- 

 tical observation, worthy of a place in your valuable Maga- 

 zine, you will confer an honour upon me by inserting them. 



