174 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



if treated in this way and then carefully transplanted in suitable beds, 

 6 inches apart both ways, at least 98 per cent, will thrive vigorously. 



In from ten to twelve months the plants should be a foot and a half 

 in height ; they are then planted out into their permanent places in the 

 field at a distance of from 15 to 20 feet apart both ways. If the soil 

 be poor 15 feet is the most suitable distance, the object being to just 

 cover the ground, so as to reduce the cost of weeding to the minimum ; 

 by this method of planting 200 trees can be grown on an acre. A stake about 

 3 feet in height is placed near each young plant, to enable the labourers to 

 see it when weeding. After the plants have been properly installed in their 

 new quarters very little remains to be done as regards after-cultivation. 

 The land is weeded from time to time, the weeds being mulched around 

 the base of the trees. This is a point of great importance, and the results 

 of mulching are very striking. Not only is plant food supplied by this 

 practice, but the surface roots of the plants are kept cool and moist 

 during the hot season. 



In weeding some proprietors only weed a distance of about three feet 

 around each plant. Where expense is a matter of vital importance this 

 plan may be adopted with advantage ; on the other hand, if the land is 

 weeded throughout, catch crops can be grown until the limes commence 

 to bear, and this has the additional advantage of admitting air to the 

 roots. Some proprietors only weed once a year, and then only just 

 previous to the ripening of the crops, but allow pasturage to grow 

 between the trees into which they turn their cattle. This plan is not 

 to be generally recommended, as considerable damage is often done to 

 the young trees by the cattle treading them down. 



The only cultivation required besides that already mentioned is an 

 occasional pruning out of all dead wood ; this is cut away and burnt, the 

 wounds made being then tarred over. Suckers are also removed, as well 

 as all branches lying near the ground, which would hinder the women in 

 picking up the fruit. No further pruning is done, the plants being left to 

 develop naturally. 



Yield. 



The plant will bear light crops in five to six years, the full crop being 

 borne in the eighth or ninth year, according to local conditions. The yield 

 per tree varies considerably and depends chiefly upon the soil, eleva- 

 tion, exposure, rainfall, &c. A well-grown tree will yield from three- 

 quarters to one barrel per annum, thus giving an average yield of, 

 roughly, 175 barrels of fruit per acre. A barrel of fresh fruit will yield 

 from seven to eight gallons of raw juice, and each gallon of ripe juice con- 

 tains from twelve to fifteen ounces of citric acid. 



Manuring. 



As the plants increase in growth the fertility of the soil is kept up by 

 judicious manuring. A method which is very largely adopted on lime 

 estates in the West Indies is worthy of mention. All the skins taken 

 from the mill, after the juice has been expressed, are carted to the cattle 

 pens. The cattle thrive well on these skins and eat them with relish ; 



