46 



climate, witli perhaps a reservation in favour of the naartje that, 

 being a tree of hardier constitution naturally, it can put up with a 

 degree or two less of temperature. 



Vaeieties foe Planting. 



Varieties for planting should be chosen with care. There are so 

 many inferior types of this fruit to be foimd in South Africa that when 

 a really good article appears on the market it commands a price of its 

 own, frequently over 100 per cent, more than is said for the ordinary 

 j.rticle. Perhajis the best of all, both for local and export trade, is 

 the " Natal " naartje, with the old Cape " Platskil " a good second. 

 Both these fruits possess the necessarj- qualifications of good 

 " carriers," good solid flesh, with plenty of juice, contained in a tight- 

 fitting skin of rich red colour. 



Of imported varieties, " Beauty of Glen Retreat " and '" Dancy's 

 Tangerine " take pride of place, whilst puffy fruits of the Bombay 

 and " Emperor " type had better be left severely alone. Selections 

 for planting should be made from the first-named — they have the 

 dual advantage of being the best and most suitable, not only for 

 export, but also for local business. The preparation of the land and 

 laying out of the orchards are precisely the same as for the orange. 

 It is, however, permissible to plant seedling naartje trees of good type 

 as opposed to the seedling orange, which should never be planted. 



Pruning and irrigation methods are also identical with those in 

 use for the latter fruit. Below are shown diagrams which convey to 

 the reader the general idea of how the fruit we term the naaitje can 

 be divided into its proper classes, "The Mandarin" and the Tan- 

 gerine, the shape of the latter is what the export trade demands ; — 



Mandarines 

 Tanierinei 



Fig2. 



