106 STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



*"The orange is not overchoice as to whether the soil is 

 granite, sandy loam, or red soil. Either of these kinds of soil 

 stands watering thoroughly and can be kept in good con- 

 dition without an extra amount of culture. The 'adobe' land 

 has probably more strength of richness than either of the other 

 soils named, but we should prefer it to be some other fellow 

 who would successfully grow orange groves on 'adobe.' " 



The best citrus fruits are those produced on the higher 

 lands, which are naturally warm and well drained, and the 

 best orange lands of our State are those having the higher 

 altitude. 



A southern exposure is usually the best for an orange 

 orchard, and it is better if sheltered from strong prevailing 

 winds. Where the winds are very strong, it is custon:iary to 

 plant windbreaks on the windward side of each five or ten 

 acres, for protection. These windbreaks usually consist of 

 alternate eucalyptus and pepper trees, planted close together, 

 usually ten or twelve feet apart. The pepper is a dense, low- 

 growing tree, while the eucalyptus runs up, and the combina- 

 tion makes a tall, solid wall capable of offering great resist- 

 ance to the wind. Both are very rapid growing trees, aqd 

 in a short time give complete protection to the orchard. The 

 Monterey cypress is also commonly used for windbreaks, for 

 which purpose the trees are planted from six to eight feet apart. 



lERIGATION. 



Irrigation and cultivation are closely associated. It has 

 come to be accepted as a truism that citrus fruits must be 

 grown on irrigated land. The method and frequency of irriga- 

 tion and the quantity of water to be applied were subjects of 

 discussion for a long time, and the orange-growers formed 

 opposing schools of irrigators and cultivators — the former 

 advocating a plentiful and frequent application of water, and 

 the latter little if any irrigation but frequent cultivation. As 

 is usual in such cases the mean was reached, and the practice 

 to-day is thorough cultivation with enough irrigation. When 

 the young trees are first set out they must have enough water 



*B. F. Dixon, in essay before Farmers' Institute, Esoondido, 1896. 



