284 



TRB AQUr CV LTV UAL JOURNAL. 



stock is wrong in all ways ; the lemon is 

 the most delicate of the citrus tribe, it is 

 short lived, and is the most subject to 

 disease. I read somewhere lateljr that in 

 California the naartje is being ex])eri- 

 mentall}' grafted on orange and other 

 stocks." 



Nursery Work. 



"And now for some detailed informa- 

 tion about the raising from seed." 



"Firstly the seeds must not be dried ; 

 they may be kept in damp earth. Over 

 every seed bed I put a rough frame work 

 about 18 inches high, and across the 

 frame work are mealie stalks. This ar- 

 rangement keeps off the sun. Gradually 

 the mealie stalks are removed, and when 

 the seedlings are ready for planting out in 

 the nursery all the stalks have been re- 

 moved, and consequently the young 

 plants are prepared for standim; the full 

 rays of the sun. Late autumn is the 

 proper time for planting. The nursery 

 should be well manured — I use chiefly 

 kraal manure — and the plants should be 

 two by three feet apart. I keep my 

 young plants never less than two years 

 'before I sell them or plant theni out, and 

 even three years sometimes. Those who 

 plant them out when yearlings always 

 lose many. When removed for planting 

 out, of course, there should be ample cut- 

 ting back to compensate for the inci- 

 dental injury to the roots. I like nlant- 

 ing big trees, and am inclined to let the 

 plants remain in the nursery three years. 

 In the nursery, you see, it is so miich 

 easier to watch the young ])lants and give 

 them the necessary attention in protect- 

 ing them from insects, caterpillars, grass- 

 hoppers, and blight. For the last I use 

 paraffin emulsion. I refuse to sell year 

 old trees, because yearlings are not satis- 

 factory ; it is much better to start or- 

 chards with strong young trees. For- 

 merly I used to send out young trees in 

 bundles, with the roots wrapped up in 

 sacking. I now send them out, and so 

 should all others doing the same business, 

 in cases, and the roots in soil. The 

 trees will keep for a week or more 

 if watered and kept in the shade. 

 About the fourth year after planting 

 out, the trees begin to bear, and thence 



forward they give good crops. Plant 

 twenty feet part, preferably on the quin- 

 cunx system. In planting be careful that 

 the little tree is not put down lower than 

 it was in its nursery bed. The ' mark ' 

 on the stem will nuike this important 

 point sin\ple. Also be most careful that, 

 the stem and roots receive no injury. The 

 holes in which to plant them should be 

 about two feet across, and the soil for 

 putting round the roots and filling up 

 the hole should be gathered to the depth 

 of a couple of inches from around. No 

 manure should be put in the holes. Be 

 careful when the tree is planted that there 

 is no depression ; if there is, water will be 

 lodged, and the roots of the tree will 

 rot. For planting out wet weather is 

 best. I always select such weather, and 

 when the work is done I give the hands 

 a little of something which will stave off 

 1)!ul results from the wetting. The or- 

 chard, for such the land becomes when the 

 youno- trees have been planted out, should 

 be continuously cultivated. Ploughing 

 should 1)0 kept up— very shallow — as long 

 as possible. On slanting land, such as 

 the most of mine, a turn-over or hillside 

 plough is best. When ploughing be- 

 comes risky to the surface roots, then cut 

 away harrows and weeders may be used. 

 Hand hoeing is also necessary ; the hoers 

 must be most careful not to injure the 

 stems of the trees. BetAveen the rows 

 two or three lines of mealies may _ be 

 planted ; sweet potatoes are also a capital 

 crop for the orchard. Give these or other 

 catch cro])s plenty of manure — what I 

 have chiefly used is stable and kraal— 

 and lots of cultivation. 



Mangoes. 



"The mnngo tree cannot he regarded 

 as a reliable cr()i)])er. The bad years are 

 too freciuent, and when the year is favour- 

 able there is a glut. From the third 

 year they bear. Thoy are free from dis- 

 ease and easily nianagcMl. Indians are 

 o'oing in largely for tluuu. Tbe Iruit 

 does' not bear trausi)ort well. I ]»refer 

 as a grower the common mango, and it 

 is the most suitable for chutneys and 

 pve'serves. The l^otnhay kind is the best 

 but it requires very careful handling. 



