THE CULTIVATION OF OKANGES. 
351 
the other, for want of phosphorus, will be sterile, and when the pollen 
grains fall off the ovary will be f ecundised, but there will be no fecundation 
of the albumen or food matter surrounding the egg, and the formed embyro 
will perish in physiological misery for want of food ; the flower will be 
sterile. Truly it is disappointing to see trees covered with foliage and 
blossoms and afterwards to find that they do not bear fruit. 
With the manures applied in February the tree is kept in good form, 
and is capable of carrying a great number of Oranges even up to the end 
of June. As the fruit grows larger the tree requires larger quantities of 
the elements of fertility, and if it does not find them, it drops all the fruits 
which it cannot properly nourish. For this reason, if the fertiliser U not 
used at the proper time and in the proper form, the fruit begins to drop 
in June, and the fine promises made by the tree in May are not fulfilled 
when it is time to gather the crop. The phosphates and potash that are 
applied in February remain in the ground with hardly any loss, and the 
roots absorb them slowly. Contrariwise, the mineral nitrogen is absorbed 
with fair speed, and in June the plant requires a further supply of nitrogen, 
not only to nourish the fruit but also to invigorate the tree, and in this 
way it succeeds in absorbing the phosphates and potash remaining in the 
ground from the last application. From this we see that it is good to use 
a nitrogenous mineral fertiliser in June, either sulphate of ammonia or 
nitrate of soda, according to the nature of the soil. With this reinforce- 
ment the fruit is regularly nourished, remaining firmly fixed to its stalk, 
thanks to the assimilated phosphates and potash. 
In soils where sulphate of iron or sulphate of lime can be best 
employed (see page 343), these products are spread broadcast during the 
month of July. Of the former should be used 100 to 200 kilos, per 
hectare (220 to 441 lb. to 2-471 acres), and of the latter 200 to 400 kilos. 
(441 to 882 lb.). 
Some growers apply manures in August, a mistaken practice which 
should be abandoned, the result being that the growth of the tree during 
summer is more impetuous, the shoots obtain an exceptional growth and 
absorb a great part of the nutritive properties of the fertiliser, to the 
detriment of the fruit. When the first frosts come, these sappy shoots, as 
tender as they are long and vigorous, suffer greatly and become yellow 
and drooping, and as a rule never develop into strong and well formed 
wood. Besides these drawbacks to the w^ood and foliage, the fruit is slow 
to ripen, and often remains with the skin of quite a green colour, without 
changing into the bright and beautiful colour so characteristic of this 
highly prized fruit. For these reasons I insist that the fertiliser for the 
Orange tree should be applied in the way I have mentioned, part in 
February and part in June. 
Sometimes, either on account of the situation of the plantation or the 
need of the grower, or not seldom on account of his caprice, it is advisable 
to sell the crop in the spring in w^hat is called the second season, and then 
one should endeavour to retard the ripening of the fruit and to keep it 
firmly fixed on the branches, so that it may not be beaten down by the 
wind or rain. For this purpose it is necessary to use a formula of mixed 
fertiliser. The superphosphate, the organic manure, and half of the 
potash salt is applied in February ; half of the nitrogenous mineral 
