THE CULTIVATION OF OKANGES. 
349 
fruit-bearing branches. On account of these considerations I recommend 
the following formula of chemical fertiliser per hectare (2-471 acres) : — 
Sulphate of ammonia . . 75 kilos. ( 165 lb.) 
Nitrate of soda . 
Superphosphate of lime 
Kainit 
Sulphate of lime 
75 
1,000 
300 
300 
165 
2,204 
661 
661 
Note. — The sulphate of lime is put on in February. 
Oeange Trees Suffering from Gumming. 
Nitrate of soda .... 
Phosphate ' Thomas ' . 
Ashes of vine-cuttings 
Sulphate of iron 
Note. — The use of organic fertilisers, and especially horse manure, 
should in this case be absolutely forbidden. 
400 kilos. ( 882 lb.) 
800 „ ( 1,763 „ ) 
900 „ ( 1,984 „ ) 
200 „ ( 441 „ ) 
Orange Nursery. 
Per each area (120 square yards) : — 
Horse manure . 
Nitrate of soda . 
Superphosphate of lime 
Ashes 
. Sulphate of lime 
Sulphate of iron 
300 kilos. 
40 „ 
15 „ 
„ 
20 „ 
3 „ 
661 
88 
33 
55 
44 
7 
lb.) 
For the seed-bed it is only necessary to use horse manure freely. 
The cultivation of the Orange requires a deep annual ploughing, when 
the organic fertilisers, sulphate of ammonia, phosphates, and salts of 
potash are ploughed in. 
Frequently this ploughing is done after the gathering of the crop in 
November or December, but some growers, from choice or necessity, leave 
their Oranges on the trees until the beginning of spring, in which case the 
ploughing should be done at the latest in February. The best time to 
plough and to apply the said fertilisers is during the first half of 
February. 
By mixing the phosphate ' Thomas ' or ashes with organic fertilisers 
or with sulphate of ammonia it should be borne in mind that more or 
less ammonia will be set free. In order therefore to avoid this waste of 
ammonia it is well to use the ashes and phosphate a few days later. The 
other components of the mineral fertiliser which is used in the winter 
may be mixed with impunity. 
In treating plantations where the trees are only half-grown the manure 
should be placed under the spread of the trees but without touching the 
trunk, say within a hand's-breadth all round. But if the trees by their 
closeness or size completely cover the surface of the ground the fertiliser 
may be spread wholesale, excepting the round holes around the trunks, 
into which neither water nor manure should be allowed to enter. The 
