THE CULTIVATION OF OEANGES. 
311 
THE CULTIVATION OF ORANGES. 
By Sefior Alixo, F.R.H.S. 
Manuring is one of the most important operations in the cultivation of 
the Orange. Ahhoiigh with some other plants one may dispense with 
manure, or give it only a second place, with the Orange one daily notices 
an increase in the means used by the agriculturist to provide sufficiently 
abundant nourishment to compensate for the great demands made by the 
strained existence to which this valuable tree is subjected. There are 
lew now who do not manure their Orange trees in one way or another, 
and their number will certainly decrease rapidly as growers come to 
understand more and more that the rational and systematic application 
of fertilisers increases the returns and gives to the plant vigour, health, 
and resisting power, without which it is impossible to pursue its cultivation 
profitably. 
It is absolutely necessary, then, to manure well, and with a knowledge 
of the results aimed at, since this is the only resource that active and 
intelligent growers possess to make the Orange attain its maximum 
production. The grower must consequently not be niggardly in his ex- 
penditure for fertilisers, but rest assured that the Orange will give him a 
full return for all his work and expense. 
The Orange tree possesses a perfectly wonderful capacity for accommo- 
dating itself to all kinds of soil which can be irrigated, but the tree grows 
and bears fruit in proportion to the nature of the soil in which it is 
cultivated. 
Soil composed mainly of siliceous sand with some lime and clay, having 
a good depth, and capable during the summer of receiving copious irriga- 
tion, is what the Orange tree requires for perfection, and prefers to all 
others. Owing to the friability and depth of this sort of soil the roots 
easily spread out and develop themselves, thus assisting the growth of 
the upper part of the tree ; ploughing, &c., is easily accomplished (the 
plough penetrating well into the soil without severe labour), and water is 
quickly absorbed without leaving those stagnant puddles which so 
often cause diseases to the roots. 
This soil, which I consider to be the best for the Orange tree, is 
valuable principally for its physical properties and, in a lesser degree, 
for its chemical composition. In its natural state it is poor, and on this 
account, in order to keep up with the requirements of nutrition, we 
should add a regular quantity of fertiliser. This, together with the cost 
of irrigation, causes heavy expenditure, but the Orange tree is a grateful 
and generous plant and repays liberally, producing large quantities of 
excellent fruit. In clayey soils the Orange tree does not grow so large, 
frequently remaining like a shrub, and the fruit is neither so large and 
fine, nor so sweet and fragrant. Too much lime produces almost similar 
results. 
In order to fix on the right fertiliser and to use it correctly one must 
be acquainted with the composition of the plant, its necessities, the 
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