JAMAICA. 



BULLETIN 



OF THE 



BOTANICAL DEPARTMENT 



New Series.] SEPTEMBER, 1896. V pkrt9 ' 



ORANGE CULTIVATION IN SICILY. 



By Acting Consul de Garston. 



(Extract from the "Foreign Office Report for the year 1895, on the 

 Consular District of Palermo.") 



Report on the Cultivation of Oranges, Lemons, Citrons, and 

 Bergamots, as practised in Sicily and the " Calabrie," with a 

 brief Account of their Chief Products. 



Cultivation. 



The culture of all plants belonging to the citrus group undergoes 

 three distinct phases with reference to the different periods of the life 

 of the plants, and corresponding to these three very well marked, 

 though very unequal periods of existence. 



The first phase comprises all those agricultural operations which are 

 needful to bring into existence the future tree, and to protect its exis- 

 tence during the first year of its life — at least, that is from the sowing 

 of the seed up to the transfer of the seedling to the nursery. The 

 second commences with the transfer of the seedling to the nursery, 

 and refers to the early growth of the young plant up to its fifth or sixth 

 year, extending sometimes longer, during which the operation of graft- 

 ing is always performed. The second epoch closes with the second and 

 final removal of the young tree to its permanent abode. The tkird 

 period of cultivation embraces all the remaining life of the adult tree m 



Seed Plot 



The soil for the reception of the seed should be of a rich loamy nature, 

 a character in the soil which is indeed needed by the plant throughout 

 all the subsequent stages of its existence, and whioh, if not spontaneous, 

 must be imparted through copious dressings. The ground must, more- 

 over, in all cases be preliminarily cleared of weeds and stones ere it be 

 dressed, and be ready for the plantiug of the seed. 



