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If it is decided to plant principally with a view to export, the most 

 popular oversea varieties must be chosen. It may be accepted, 

 perhaps, that the general policy of most present and prospective 

 planters is and will be to plant for the export market. 



Eoug-hly speaking, our citrus export covers the four months of 

 June, July, August, and September ; the object of the exporter should 

 be to be represented by the best varieties during the longest time 

 possible during these months. This is at present accomplished by the 

 export of early seedlings, Washington Navels, and late seedlings. 

 Naturally, the Natal fruits are first on the market, owing to the hotter 

 climate of that Province ; then come the Transvaal shipments, and 

 later those from the cooler parts of the eastern districts of the Cape. 

 It appears to the writer that such an arrangement, falling in a natural 

 sequence as to the priority of ripening, simplifies matters somewhat 

 and emphasizes the necessity of Natal studying the best early kinds to 

 plant ; of the Transvaal and certain parts of the Cape going in for 

 mid-season, and the south coast specializing on later varieties. 



There are many seedling oranges which may be depended upon 

 to supply the needs of the earlier months of export. Washington 

 Navel and others of the previously named kinds cover the mid-season, 

 and A^alencia Late and Du Roi, with other seedlings, are available later 

 on. 



Selection of suitable seedlings is not an easy matter, the chief 

 difficulty being to get fruit of uniform quality, and it is just possible 

 that eventually some particular one with marked and suitable 

 characteristics, such as thinness of skin, freedom from rag and seeds, 

 fine texture, and good flavour, will be selected for propagation by 

 nurserymen, who are constantly one the lookout for a " good thing." 

 There are early named varieties on most trade lists, chiefly importations 

 from America, but they do not appear to be as satisfactory as some of 

 our own better class seedlings. The greatest care should be exercised 

 in the selection of young Washington Navels for planting. There are 

 a few strains of this fruit which are no credit to the name. 

 Fortunately, a good number of trees of undoubted pedigree have been 

 introduced into South Africa at different times from California, and 

 there are many thousands of trees of this true type propagated 

 annually. It is worth a large sum of money to be sure that one is 

 getting the right strain ; given such, a good step forward has been 

 made to the success of the orchard On the other hand, the purchase 

 of trees of an inferior strain and bearing qualities can lead to little 

 short of disaster. Oranges from the southern and coastal districts 

 ripen somewhat later than Natal, Transvaal, and central Cape fruits. 

 Advantage is taken by some growers of the lateness of the district, and 

 Valencia Late oranges from these parts appear on local markets when 

 they are bare of aught else. So far no attempt has been made to export 

 a really late orange, such as would arrive in Europe m November and 

 December. This will occur when more late varieties have been 

 planted, and there is every prospect of success in the venture. Fruits 

 from South Africa arriving in Europe during tliose months would be 

 ripe and sweet as compared with the early Spanish shipments arriving 

 at the same time in a half ripe and wholly sour condition. 



The selection of late varieties to be produced in the late districts 

 is seriously commended to growers in those localities. 



