Deep alluvial grey Ljujus also offer ideal condrtions for orange 

 culture. Tlie presence of lime or other stones in gravelly or boulder 

 foru) need not be regarded as a serious obstacle, indeed, lime is of 

 benefit rather than the reverse. One imperative condition is always 

 present, that is. that all soils selected for the planting of an orange 

 grove must be ploughable. This remark seems, perhaps, superfluous, 

 but from what the writer has seen it is really far from being the case. 

 Soils to avoid embrace all such as may be underlaid by undesirable sub- 

 soils which would tend to the retention of standing or stagnant water 

 round the roots. Whilst it is true that the tree demands and must 

 receive a plentiful supply of water, good drainage is equally a necessity. 

 Turf soils, as they are called here, and which resemble somewhat the 

 " adobe " of California, are objectionable, and so are any other types 

 which tend to "bake" and crack. Clay soils come under this head, 

 and should not be considered where any other are available. 



Site row Geovk. 



This should be chosen with care and a bearing in view of a good 

 many considerations : proximity to rail ; shelter from high winds ; 

 availability of irrigation water by gravitation if jiossible ; an exposure 

 to the north and east is recognized as being most desirable ; cost of 

 laud and suitability for irrigation purposes. The average annual rain- 

 fall must also be studied; upon this depends the amount of water 

 necessary to be provided in excess for irrigation purposes, and, finally, 

 in certain parts of South Africa a study should be made of avoiding 

 those belts of country which are known to be subject to hailstorms. It 

 will be seen, therefore, that due thought should be given to the many 

 points enumerated, as the success or failure of a grove might easily 

 rest upon the neglect or disregard of any of them. 



As regards climate, the orange tree will put up with a certain 

 amount of frost as it attains maturity. The writer has seen trees 

 successfully pull through a winter during which they experienced a 

 temperature of 19° F. at an altitude of 5000 feet for several nights in 

 succession, but that is an exceptional occurrence, and it is only fair 

 to say that there were no sudden fluctuations, which, as a rule, prove 

 more disastrous in their results than a steady low temperature. 



By freedom from frost is meant freedom from such frosts as that 

 mentioned, which would prove fatal to young trees. An ideal state 

 of affairs as regards temperature would be found within a range of 

 f]'om 24° to l(T(j° F., and this is quite frequently attainable. A good 

 deal depends also upon the season of the year in which the rainfall 

 occurs. By far tlie greater portion of the country rejoices in a summer 

 precipitation, and this for all citrus fruits is ideal. Winter rainfall 

 and drizzly, misty conditions during harvesting time demand the 

 exercise of extreme care as to when the fruit is gathered, and this is 

 especially the case when it has to be exported. However, such con- 

 ditions as those last described are only found as a rule near the coast, 

 and the influences imparted by the surrounding ocean in a climate 

 almost entirely free from f]ost more than compensate, perhaps, for the 

 drawbacks to which allusion has been made. Protection against high 

 winds can be provided for by the selection of a naturally sheltered 

 position, or, where this is not possible, by the planting of suitable 

 wind-breaks. 



