i 



regairdfl climate. If, however, the growers of Jamaica oranges could hasten the ripening of their crop 

 by a month or so they would obtain very substantial advantages. We may assume that they already 

 plant their oranges in suitable soil and in warm and sheltered valleys. The question is : Whether it be 

 possible by selecting a hotter soil, say on limestone; by judicious pruning; by the use of certain manures ; 

 by grafting from known early trees on to certain stocks; by propagating by seed from early trees or by 

 any other method to secure earlier crops of fruit ? You have had so wide an experience in regard to 

 fruit trees and the controlling influence brought to bear upon them in this country that your opinion 

 would have a special interest in the present inquiry. If you could find time to favour us with an ex- 

 pression of your views we should be very glad. 



Very sincerely yours, 



D. MOBRIS. 



George Bunyard, Esq. 



Mr. G. Bunyard to Royal Gardens, Kew. 



The Old Nurseries, Maidstone, January 6th, 1893. 



Dear Mr. Morris, 



I have thought over the forwarding of ripening in Jamaica oranges. I cannot suggest any likely 

 plan except "evolution," i.e., selecting the earliest fruits from the earliest trees and continuing the pro- 

 cess through many generations. In this country we use glass and walla to bring on crops, neither are 

 of avail there, and the only way I can see at all likely is by planting on shallow, rocky sub-soils, or by 

 paving the base of the trees, taking advantage of the warmest spots, and by severe thinning of the trees 

 to allow a free play of sun and air, digging in stones 6 to 8 inches over (as is done with Figs here) would 

 also help a little. 



I am, etc., 



George Bunyard. 



Mr. T. F. Rivers to Royal Gardens, Kew. 



Sawbridgeworth, January 7, 1893. 



Dear Mr. Morris, 



I have one orange which ripens in my house about three weeks in advance of the ordinary St. 

 Michael's, this is called the Egg Orange, but it is not the Maltese Egg. It was sent here with other 

 varieties from St. Michaels and is one of the best sorts that I have. It is early, fertile, always good 

 but not egg-like, as it is generally round. When Professor Emory M. Smith came here last summer 

 he told me that one of the most profitable in some orchards in California, was named the " Rivers lale 

 Orange." I have no recollection of having sent this orange, but it is quite true that I have a late 

 orange which ripens with me in April and May, about three months after the ordinary oranges. This 

 orange might do very well in Jamaica, as it would, by its tardiness, rather anticipate the orange 

 season. Do you think the orange likes limestone ? 



I use the lemon as a stock. I could not say whether any stock would produce precocity. Raising 

 seedlings is uncertain and would take many years. Out of a thousand seedlings one or two might differ 

 in precocity. I should think the choice of a site would be the most important factor. 



T. F. Rivers. 



Mr. T. Eanbury, F.L.8., to Royal Gardens, Kew. 



La Mortola, Vertimiglia, Italy, 

 18th January, 1893. 



Dear Mr. Morris, 



In reply to your note of the 9th instant, I would say, I fear my experience and the information 

 I can give is worth but little as regards oranges. I have a fair quantity here and a large quantity 

 at Alassio, but they all seem to ripen about the same time, viz. : the middle of December, but are 

 sweeter and better for hanging a month later on the trees. 



We are on the nummulitic limestone, a warm position on the steep sides of a hill, but the orange 

 trees like a lighter soil with more moisture and do better on the plain at Alassio, that place produc- 

 ing the best flavoured oranges on the Riviera. 



In my opinion it is a great point to get a nearly pipless orange with a very thin skin and hardly 

 any pith between the flesh and the skin, such oranges are produced at Sewtow in China, and it would 

 be worth while for the Jamaica people to get seeds or even young trees from thence. 



An excellent artificial manure, especially prepared for orange trees and largely used in Florida, 

 is sold by Mr. G. B. Forrester, 169 Front Street, New York. I have imported it on two or three 

 occasions. 



I am making further enquiries and shall not fail to address you if I can get any information 

 worth sending. 



The common remark of English frequenting this coast is "how poor the oranges are," in my 

 garden I have some good kinds. It is best to graft the Bigaradier or bitter orange, that being the 

 most robust of all. 



In Jamaica, if they do not already possess it, they should get the great pipless oval Jaffa orange, 

 very much liked by some people for its lusciousness, but to my taste it is deficient in the fine flavour 

 possessed by a good St. Michael round orange. 



Believe me, &c., 



Thomas Hanbury, 



