518 
THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 
[Fki;. ], I'jQ] 
the flowering abalka becominp; tall ancl bare by their 
continuous habit of flowering, and the flowers small- 
er and scanty. It is therefore advisable to lift the 
plants at least once a year, replanting them as 
already advised, the process of digginf; and m.inur- 
ing being repeated each time. Wlien grown in pots 
or boxes the plants should ba allowed as much 
light and air as possible, as, otherwise they will 
become too tall and lauky. Those most suitable 
for such culture are probably the " Gladiolus-flowered" 
varieties, which are included under Class II. 
Canuas will thrive at practically all elevations ii 
Ceylon, though they are best adapted for the law- 
country, where, up to 3,000 feet altitude, their flowers 
will be larger as well as more plentiful and effective. 
As regards arrangement in planting out this is 
entirely dependent on local conditions and individual 
taste. Cannas are, however, especially adapted for 
planting in groups or masses, or at the back of 
borders; whilst they are also effective when planted 
amongst a mixed border or against a blackground of 
shrubbery ; but in pots, tins, or boxes they are 
Beldom satisfactory except as ' foliage plants '• when 
in healthy growth. The bronzeor puiple-leaved kinds, 
apart from their flowers, may be made to afford 
a pleasant contrast with green or variegated foliage, 
and are worth growing on this account alone. It 
may be stated that an open, sunny situation, away 
from the shade of trees, is the most conducive to 
a floriferous habit. 
Classification. — For botanical purposes Cannas are 
divided into four sub-genera, based on scientific 
distinctions in which the average grower is not much 
interested ; nor are these really of importance from 
a horticultural stand-point. In any case, with the 
garden varieties it is practically impossible to follow 
specific distinctions and, it being difficult to place 
these plants in any order of merit, an arrangement 
in accordance with the purpose they fulfil in the 
garden will be of the most practical guidance to 
persons making a selection. Thus considered, height 
of stems with foliage is probably of the first im- 
portance, next to this being respectively colour of 
leaves and flowers. The " Orchid-fiowered " class 
are easily distinguished, as already stated. They 
have large and usually flat-surfaced flowers, borne 
on spikes which become very elongated, and are 
generally coloured with rich velvety tints. In the 
purple-leaved section of these the flowers are generally 
smaller and more or less funnel-shaped; 
The " Gladiolus-flowered " varieties however do not 
seem to be so vfell defined. These are generally of 
a more compact habit of growth than the former, 
their form of inflorescence (usually a branched 
raceme) also being shorter, but more spreading, and 
forming round heads. Though these include some 
of th« best of the newer varieties raised, most of the 
older varieties which are not of the Orchid-flower- 
type may also, apparently, be classed under the same 
head. 
In regard to the following order, in which the 
different varieties are arranged according to height 
and colour of leaves, it must be remembered that 
only the height of the foliage is taken into account ; 
even this will be found to vary in different soils and 
under dissimilar conditions, so that the figures given 
should be considered only as an approximation. In 
the case of colours — which most people describe 
differently — these are given in accordance with the 
opinion of the writer. The following selection in- 
cludes what are considered the most distinct and 
best varieties at Psradeniya, where, however, several 
more are grown. When known the date of origin 
or introduction to horticulture is given in brackets 
after each variety. 
Boyal Botanic Gardens, H. F. Macmillan. 
Peradeniya, November 15, 1900, Curator. 
(Lists of varieties Ac, are omitted,— Ed, T.A.) 
ORANGE-CULTURE IN SOUTH 
CALIFORNIA. 
Bv D. Wing ATE. 
The following excellent article on citrus fruit cul- 
ture in Califoi-nia is taken from Cli'imherss Journal, 
and may ipso faclo be taken as authoritative. We 
have frequently been indebted to that journal for 
reliable information on various; subjects, 'which are 
obtained from the best sources, and are treated in 
a manner at once clear and intelligible to all in- 
terested in the subjects dealt with: — 
The culture of the ovange-tree has greatly in- 
creased in South Califo;:ii-i, uithin the last few 
years, despite theninuy difficulties the grower,? have had 
to contena with. Florida was once the largest orano-e- 
produoing State in the Union ; Riverside, a county 
in South California, is now the largest orange-pro- 
ducing district in the world. Even Covini, a 
comparatively new orange section, also in South 
California, last season (1899) shipped 100,000 boxes 
more than the whole State of Florida. Given suit- 
able soil and plenty of sunshine, irrigation and 
cultivation have done the rest ; ami the result to-day 
is thousands of acres of beautiful trees in bearing 
averriging about a hundred trees to the acre. 
The celebrated "seedless navel orange," first pro- 
duced in Riverside, practically gave South California 
its world-wide reputation for orange-growing • and 
this orange has completely thrown into the" 'shade 
other variet'es— such as Blediterranean Sueet Valen 
cia, Euby and IMalta Bloods, St. Michaels, and 
others less known. Growers have discovered that 
for size, flavour, and steady bearing, no other orange 
can compete with it. " 
_ The first year of the orange-tree's life in the orchard 
IS a most critical period iu its existence, because it 
has just been transplanted from the nursery, in which 
during its growth for three or four yeais from the seed' 
It has been carefully nurtured, and is then worth 
from 50 cents to 1 dollar— that is, 23, to 4s The 
young trees are planted in the orchard in rows 
accurately measured off, 18 by 20 feet apart. 
The Washington navel orange-tree fruits the first 
year in tlie orchard, but it is only sa d to be in 
bearing the- third year ; and from that time it must 
be ted and watered with the greatest care if at 
the age of twelve years, it is to produce 700 lb' or 
800 lb. of fruit. Many of the most successful 
groves are of comparatively old growth, p)ant->d 
some twenty-two to twenty-five vears ago • but the 
health and productiveness of these trees have been 
maintained by the generous expenditure of fertilisers— 
often amounting from 1 ton to 1^ tons to the acre 
consisting of guano with necessary proportions of 
potash and sulphate of iron— and also by the regular 
irrigation in summer every thirty days, and by in- 
cessant cultivation or breaking up of the so.l which 
is so apt to become baked by the snn. In the 
first instance the virgin soil is extremely fertile 
but It cannot be drawn upon year after year with 
impunity ; and the pioneers discover this, to their 
loss, when the decadence of their orange-trees become 
evident. Young orchards pay while the soil is virgin • 
but It IS no economy to spare either water or 
ma nure after the first year or two of bearing, if the 
orchardist wishes his trees to maintain their pro- 
ductiveness. Some growers state that slight blemishes 
on oranges denote too rich feeding of the trees • but 
I believe this opinion is held only by a miuority 
The grower has practically nothing further to do 
with the oranges after they leavn his orchard • the 
sorting, cleaning, gi ading, and final packing fo'r the 
market, are in the hands of the association packing- 
houses—unless, of course, the grower himself has 
been able to establish a brand and a p rcking-house 
of his own. Usually the grower is supplied with 
boxes by the association, and into them the oranges 
are loosely packed by his pickers, niled up on wao-ons 
and taken into the packing-house. There the teamster 
