1 May, 1900. | QUEENSLAND AGRICULTURAL JOURNAL. 879 
Sorts SUITABLE FoR THE Cunrtivatron oF Cirrus Fruits. 
} The selection of the soil is of vital importance, as the commercial success of 
| the orchard mainly depends on the trees being planted in the right soil. It is 
| Bele for me to emphasise this matter too strongly, as the failures in citrus 
} “ulture in the past have been largely due to the trees having been planted in 
| tle wrong soil. No matter how well you look after your orchard, if it 1s 
Planted in unsuitable soil your trees will never thrive, but will always be 
Predisposed to diseases both of fungus and insect origin, and only produce a 
‘mall quantity of inferior fruit. ‘The undertaking will eventually end in 
| ppointment and loss, and will result in the production of one more abandoned 
| “chard to breed scales and other pests to the detriment of the industry 
| 8eherally. Thousands of citrus trees have been planted in unsuitable soil in 
many parts of the colony for many years past, and these trees, besides being a 
} °s to their owners directly and the colony indirectly, are now a menace to 
} “trus culture generally, as they form the best of all nurseries for the propagation 
‘®t every kind of disease that attacks citrus fruits or citrus trees. 
|. I strongly advise everyone who purposes planting a citrus orchard to give 
| this matter the most careful consideration, and that, unless he is satisfied 
| that his soil possesses the essential qualifications as presently described, it is 
etter for him to give up all thoughts of citrus culture on such land, and to 
Utilise it for a more suitable crop; or if he still wishes to go in for citrus 
| culture, then to select some other land having the essential qualifications. Tf 
| Here is any uncertainty in the matter, then it will be better to communicate 
| With the Department of Agriculture, so as to prevent any mistake, as the plant- 
| Mg of a citrus orchard on the wrong soil is a loss to the colony. The first 
| *nd all-important consideration in the selection of a soil suitable for citrus 
| Culture is that it possesses perfect natural drainage, so that, no matter how 
_ avy or continued a rain we may have, there is no stagnant water in the soil, 
4S stagnant water is a sure death to profitable citrus culture. 
Such a soil may be either a deep sandy loam of granitic, sandstone, or 
‘lluvial origin, having a free porous subsoil; a friable sandy loam with a 
_ Stavelly or shaly subsoil; or a friable voleanic loam, having no clayey subsoil. 
_ *tobably the best all-round citrus soil is a deep, sandy loam of a reddish, 
brownish, or chocolate colour that is fairly rich in humus or organic 
| Matter, but not necessarily very rich in plant food, as the right 
| Mechanical condition of the soil is of much greater importance than extreme 
} ‘rtility. Such a soil is friable, easily worked, scours well, and retains moisture 
} Well, so that when kept in a good state of cultivation trees root deeply in it, and 
} *e not affected to any extent by slight droughts. The subsoil is of equal if 
Not greater importance than the soil itself. It should be thoroughly friable, of 
| “ted or brownish colour, never yellow, blue, or greyish white—tree from clay, 
_ ‘nd so porous that water runs through it rapidly. Tf the subsoil is of a yellow, 
ue, or greyish-white colour, it is a sign the land is sour and is impregnated 
With unoxidised salts of iron which are detrimental to the growth of citrus 
Tees. Such a subsoil requires draining and aerating before it is suitable, even 
t Sugh it contains only a small proportion of clayey matter. 
As previously stated, it is not as essential that the soil shall be rich in all 
| Plant foods as thatit shall be in the right condition mechanically; at the same time, 
| Ptovided that the soil and subsoil possess the essential qualifications of friability 
| 4nd perfect drainage, it is no drawback but rather an advantage for it to be mode- 
"ately rich as well, as in such a soil the trees will make a more rapid and vigorous 
_ stowth than they would in a poorer soil, and will not need any systematic manuring 
| “ryearstocome. It is notan advantage to select too rich land, such as some of our 
- Neh alluyial or virgin scrub soils, as under these conditions the trees are apt to 
_ Produce an excessive wood growth rather than fruit, and not come into bearing 
_ 48 carly or produce as good quality fruit—at any rate, until the virgin richness 
} } the soil is exhausted—as trees grown on somewhat poorer soil. Sandy, 
Samy forest land usually produces the finest quality fruit, but often requires 
