42 



means only, can results of the most satisfactory nature be achieved. 

 Tlie question of cultivation of the lands is described in the previous 

 notes referring to the orange, and it is, therefore, unnecessary to 

 recapitulate it here, as the needs of the trees in this direction are 

 almost identical. 



Application of Fertilizers. 



The lemon removes more potash and lime, about the same quantity 

 of phosphoric acid and rather less nitrogen, from the soil than the 

 orange does. It follows that the application of fertilizers should be 

 made in proportions bearing some reference to these facts. The use 

 of basic slag as a source of phosphoric acid and lime is generally 

 advised. Resort should, on no account, be made to stable or kraal 

 manure at any time, the effect of the use of these is an undue 

 coarsening a ad roughening of the sldn of the fruit, which is most 

 undesirable, as one of the best points of a lemon is its smooth, silky 

 skin. It should also be bornr in mind that in some of the, hotter 

 valleys in the interior there is already a marked tendency to the pro- 

 duction of coarse fruit, and the addition to the soil of any ingredient 

 likely to accentuate this most undesirable feature should be avoided. 



Use of Legumes. 



The use of leguminous cover crops is advised as Idng as they can 

 be grown between the trees ; these supply humus and nitrogen, and 

 are altogether desirable from every point' of view. Perhaps the best 

 are velvet beans, cow-peas, ordinary Kaffir beans, or, where they can 

 be grown, vetches. They should be sown either broadcast or drilled 

 in. About TO lb. of velvet beans or cow-peas, or 30 lb. of Kaffir beans, 

 should give a good crop, and this should be turned under with the 

 plough just as the blossoms appear — it is better to be a little early 

 than late. 



The Poor Max's Friend. 



rrunii}[i.~^1V^ lemon tree has been called the " Poor "Man's 

 Friend," because it is possible to pick, at any rate, a few fruits for 

 sale at almost any period of the year, and thus there is always a little 

 money coming in. Although this is perfectly true, the bulk of the 

 crop ripens during the winter, and from May to August are the 

 months during which it is gathered. If the trees are left unpruned, 

 as IS too frequently the case, there are several wavs in which both 

 fruit and tree are liable to be exposed to injury, and consequently the 

 owner thereof to loss. 



■ As is well known, many varieties of lemons, esp^^cially Yilla 

 Franca, have the habit of putting on ffuit at the very tips" of the 

 branches, which naturally sag downwards as the fruit gets heavier and 

 heavier, causing the tree to have a sagged opened-out appearance. 

 (Jne eliect of this is that the fruit is exposed to the hot sun from the 

 time it has set until it is harvested. It is thus subject to the danger 

 ot sun-scaid, and this is manifested in the discoloration of the e5.posed 

 side of the fruit to a dark brown colour, rendering it unsaleable. In 

 addition, the straggling branches of an ulitrimmed lemon tree are 

 easily blown about by high winds, this means they are often broken 

 the fruit falls off or gets knocked about and bruised, and this is another 

 source of loss. 



