3S0 Supplement to the 



the circumstances the authorities have devised 

 a plan to collect camphor from the leaves of the 

 camphor tree as relief means and in the mean- 

 while are urging the local cultivators to plant 

 young trees on plantations of 30 square cfto 

 every year in each prefecture. In Formosa the 

 Governor-General is making efforts for the 

 extension of the camphor cultivation carrying 

 on the plantation of trees by way of setting an 

 example and encouraging the natives to take to 

 the cultivation by leasing land belonging to the 

 Government. An extensive plantation is estab- 

 lished at Taito on leased land by Mr. Tsuchikura 

 of Yamato and another by the Mitsui Firm. 

 With the farther advance of the Aiyu line the 

 authorities are going to carry out plantation 

 on a grander scale by encouraging the inhabit- 

 ants to engage in the cultivation. The authori- 

 ties will establish a special training institution 

 for training camphor makers. These measures 

 if carried out give a flourishing finish to this 

 monopoly industry in which Formosa has no 

 rival in the world's camphor business. The ex- 

 perts who were despatched last year to South 

 China for inspection of the camphor industry 

 there are expected to be back this spring and 

 on their return the authorities will start investi- 

 gation as to the proper measures to provide 

 against the rival industry. 



TO RENOVATE AN ORANGE TREE. 



Many an old tree is permanently lost to the 

 cultivator the life of which could be much pro- 

 longed by judicious and careful treatment. An 

 old tree which has been neglected generally car- 

 ries a top or head consisting of large branches on 

 which the bearing wood is stunted, the leaves 

 small, and what fruit it bears probably not 

 more than half the original size it produced 

 when in its prime. To begin work, the cultivator 

 should carefully remove the surface soil from 

 about its roots to a depth of six to eight inches, 

 little by little, taking care not to cut or injure 

 the roots in so doing, but to carefully preserve 

 all that are seen. If the work is done in hot 

 weather the bared roots should be kept care- 

 fully covered from the sun while the operation 

 of removing the soil progresses. The soil removed 

 is to be heaped neatly on one side for after-use. 

 The distance from the tree to the fullest extent 

 of its roots may be gauged by the spread of its 

 branches, and the soil should be removed to 

 the circumference of the circle over which its 

 branches spread. If the tree3 are planted in 

 pasture where the turf is good this should be 

 removed in sections that can be conveniently 



Tropical A griculturist 



replaced. Procure some well rotted stable 

 manure and place a liberal application of some 

 four inches in thickness over the bared roots 

 using a little of the soil to cover the roots, so 

 as not to place the manure directly upon them. 

 Having placed the manure, return the soil 

 and cover the manure, finishing finally with 

 replacing the turf. If dry weather pre- 

 vails give regular waterings two or three 

 times a week. Mauure should not be placed 

 nearer the stem than about 2 feet, as there are 

 few or no roots within that distance, and manure 

 is sure to do harm to the bark of the stem and 

 the stem of the main roots. Watch the tree and 

 take note when young shoots begin tc start and 

 when these -which should be plentiful — have 

 grown to about a foot in length, shorten back 

 the branches of the whole head carefully with a 

 saw, to points from which the new growths have 

 started cutting well back, but leaving the head 

 or top as a whole of a rounded or well shaped 

 form. No branch should be left longer than 

 the rest, but all should come within the general 

 contour lines of the head taking especial care 

 not to leave the upright branches longer than 

 literal or spreading ones, as sap always flows 

 most quickly to the highest point (a general 

 axiom), and if the upright central branches are 

 left too long, they will invariably take away sap 

 and nutriment which is wanted in the literal 

 branches. As the young shoots extend in 

 growth, great care should be taken not to let 

 one get ahead of another, and if such growth 

 appears it should be "stopped" by pinching out 

 the points with the thumb and ringer while the 

 wood is soft. By such a method many a tree 

 may be rejuvenated and made to bear good crops 

 of excellent fruit for years afterwards, but it 

 sometimes happens, that the vitality is too far 

 gone, and the result will then be the death of the 

 tree. As a rule, however, the practice is worth 

 while in any case, for it probably would have 

 succumbed, if left in its original state. The 

 practice here described is not limited to the 

 orange tree, but may be used with advantage on 

 Fruit trees of all kinds, and sometimes is useful 

 for trees of an ornamental character. 



In dressing orange trees for insect and some 

 forms of Fungal diseases, the head of the tree 

 may be safely cut away down to the main 

 branches carefully with a saw, entirely denuding 

 it of leaves. The branches and stem should then 

 be carefully washed and scrubbed, and a 

 mixture of soft-scap, tobacco water, sulphur and 

 clay mixed to the consistency of paintj applied. 



