352 Orange Situations and Soits. 
tion of oranges, as of other fruits, and is of advantage to both 
districts in that it lengthens the marketing season of the fruit, 
and, to a certain extent, relieves both from competition. 
SITUATIONS AND SOILS FOR THE ORANGE. 
Though it is acknowledged to be impossible to speak geo- 
graphically concerning the success of the orange, there are a 
few generalizations concerning suitable conditions which may 
assist the planter in choosing locations. The lowest tempera- 
ture reached in our fruit districts since American occupation, 
has not seriously injured mature wood of the orange, except in 
notoriously unfit situations, but it should be pointed out that 
injury to mature wood is wrought much below the limit of 
safety to the product. The fruit is very liable to injury at a 
slight drop below the freezing point, and where such tempera- 
ture is reached every winter, the orange tree would be little 
more than ornamental. Even in our best orange regions there 
is occasional injury to the fruit and to young trees, and appre- 
hension is felt as the frost season approaches, but this, of course, 
is the case in many other orange regions of the world. As will 
be shown in a later chapter, Californians have achieved notable 
results in protection of citrus fruits against frost injury. 
Situations not far distant from each other often differ greatly 
in suitability for the orange, the chief elements of the variation 
being elevation, exposure and soil. The orange tree, to be thrifty 
and profitable, should have deep, rich, and permeable soil. The 
soil should be fairly retentive of moisture and yet not heavy 
enough to prevent escape of excess of water. It should be light 
enough to work readily in cultivation and yet not so loose as to 
dry out readily by evaporation or leaching. A first-class loam 
of adequate depth answers these requirements. Substrata of 
hard-pan or of sand and gravei are undesirable and have caused 
planters much loss and disappointment. Due examination 
should be made for such defects before planting. A subsoil of 
clay loam is not objectionable providing the surface is of lighter 
character. In fact, a clay loam is being successfully used in 
several of our best orange districts—the chief objection to it 
being its disposition to be refractory in tillage. In some regions 
it is called “adobe” in contrast to the prevalent sandy soils of 
the region, but it is not adobe in the correct use of the term. 
& certain elevation above the Jow ground of the region is 
very desirable because of escape from frost, as already explained 
in Chapter 1, and shelter from currents of cold air is sometimes 
locally of much importance. The principles involved have 
already been discussed, 
These are presented as ideals in the selection of situation 
and support for orange trees. Of course there are trees grow- 
