. THE ORANGE: ITS CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. WM. A. SPALDING. NAVEL D RANGE, Orange Culture affbrdi him both a Career and a Be venue."— BISHOP. THE ORANGE: Its Culture in 'California. WITH A Brief Discussion of the Lemon. Lime, and Other Citrus Fruits. By WM, A, 5FALEING-, < ' With an Appendix on Insects injurious to Citrus Trees, and Hcnv to Combat Them. [FROM THE WOKK or JK-KN. MAITHJ;\\ rooKE.] ItlVKKSJDE: AM) HOKTICULTUKICT STK4M PKINT. 1885. •AINED Entered according to Act of Congress in the year 1884, By WM. A. SPALDING, In the pfflce of the Librarian of Congress, Washington, D. C. Main Lib? Till-: &E8FERIDEU. Where the sun" goeth'jlown in the West, Where the spirits of earth find rest — Tn the occident-land of the blest, — There dwell the Hespcrides. They are daughters of Erebus — Xight, IIL vestments of shadow bedight, And they know not the dot/ with its light- Those Sisters Hcsperides. They are guarding the apples of gold — Earth's gift to fond Hera of old, And their vigils forever they hold O'er the fruit-laden trees. And the spirits of earth and air Know not thai the Sisters are there, Or the trees with their fruitage so rare In that oceident-land of peace \ For darkness is over them thrown: Night claimeth the fruit for his own; — Well he guard eth the Great Unknown, With his shades, the Hcsperides. O glorious land of the West!—' O land I hold dearest and best, Elysium is not then possessed Of fruits so enchanting as these. Thy graces thai arc ever in sight Hear apples of gold not less bright, And their guardians are angels of light, Obeying the" Day1 s decree*. Blent mortals who there do abide! Of the fruit that no shadows hide They may eat and be satisfied, Nor fear the Hesperides. 298089 PREFACE. These pages set forth my observations of the films Fruit Industry during n resi- dence of eleven years in Southern California, and my experience as a praciira' horticulturist for four years. The .principles ot propagation and planting I have worked out with my own hands, and know them to be more than abstract theo- ries. In matters pertaining to the gathering, packing and shipping of fruit, I have discussed established methods, advocating the most advanced. I hope this treatise may prove a pleasant reminiscence to those of its readers who are experienced orange growers, and that it may aid the novice who lays hold of the orange tree to avoid the thorns. W. A. S. Riverside, ('«'. 1 N I) E X. . Antiquity W the Citrus Family 3 Acapulco ( > ranges 22 Arrangement of Nursery 32 After Care of Xursery .'54 Age of Stock for Budding..-. ."•<; Arranging an Orchard -1.') Alternately Opposite 47 Advantage* of Septuple System 40 Applying Manure 64 Artificial Fertilizers <>4 Application of Tree Washes (>7-(.»7 Advisable Crops OS Analyses of Oranges and Lemons 47 Budded Varieties 21 Baldwin'i Favorite Orange 22 Bergarnot Orange , , 22 Boxes for Planting Seeds 27 Budding , ,,. ,.... 35 Buds— Choosing ttllii 30 Buds — Preparing <. 3(5 Buds— Cutting.. 37 Budded Stock— Care of. 3ft Boundary Lines 44 Balling Trees 51 Broken Balls 52 Balling, When not Desirable .7)2 Backsets 55 Basin Method of Irrigation 58 Barrel Irrigation 50 Black Scale 66-93 Budded Trees— When They Yield 68 Budded Fruit— Loss Capacity 70 Boxes for Packing ,..,.... 72 Budding Old Trees 74 Bonnie Brae Lemon SO-S7 Country— Orange Growing 9 Characteristics of the Orange IS Covering the Seed 20 Cold— Protection from 31 Cold Weather— Lemons 81 Condition of Stock for Budding 30 Cutting Stocks and Inserting Buds ...... 37 Cutting Stocks after Budding 38 Cutting Stubs „ 38 Care of Budded Stock ..................... ..... 3y Caution ................................................. 30 Clearing and Preparing Land ............... 41 Cactus Land ......................................... 42 Check Hows— Square. .......................... 45 Check Hows— Quincunx ....................... 47 Cultivation— Object .............................. 55 Cultivation versus Irrigation ............... 55 Cultivating Orchard ............................. 5»; < 'ultivating after Irrigation .................. 59 Cultivation — Too Soon.. ....................... 59 Compost Heap ...................................... o;; Cottony Cushion Scale ..................... 06-90 Crops Not Advisable ............................ 69 Crops Advisable ................................... 09 Citrus and Deciduous Mixed ................. 69 Curing Fruit .............................. ........... 71 Cleaning Fruit ........... .*. ........................ 72 Cost of Picking and Packing ............. .. 72 Contract Picking .................................. 73 Citrons...- .......................................... ... 89 Chinese Lemons .......... ......................... 89 Citrus Leaf and Fruit Scale .................. 95 DU Hoi Orange ..................................... 22 Drained — Xursery ................................ 32 Distances Apart for Trees ............ ......... 45 Distances for Check Rows — Quincunx.. 49 Distances for Check Rows— Septuple ... 50 Dormant Stage ...................................... 51 Damp Straw for Packing Hoots ............ 52 Depth of Planting ................................ 54 Die IJack ........................ ................... »... 66 Diversified Planting ............................. 68 Dry— Fruit Gathered When .................. 71 se of Propagating House ........... 30 "Exposure — Orange Orchard .................. 40 Easiest Method of Clearing Land ......... 41 Economize, in Buying Trees .................. 43 Earth— Settling in Planting .................. 54 Enemies to Young Orange Plants ......... 31 Enemies of the Orange Tree ............ 64-98 Economy Wins .................................... £8 Eureka Lemon .................................... 63 VI TNDEX, Florida ( > ranges — 23 Filling Propagating Boxes 27 Frosts— Avoiding 40 Fuel from Cleared Land 41 False Economy in Buying Trees 43 Filling Planting Holes 54 Furrow Irrigation 5S Fertilizing <>2 Fertilizing by Water •;:'. Fertilizing by Water not Sufficient !>•'> Fungus, or Smut (><> Force Pump 07 Fruit — Thinning (}J) Fruit— After Production Frost on Lemons SI Qermination of Seeds 31 Ground— Nursery— Laying Otl' 32 Grafting 3i» Growth — Periods of 51 Gophers Ii4 Grasshoppers »>•"> Gum .Disease <>(» Grader, Orange 72 Genoa Lemon si; Garcelon's Knobby Lemon si; Homosassa Orange 22 Holes for Trees, Digging 53 High Pruning (10 I lints About Pruning «>2 Helps to Tide Over »>s Introduction of the Orange in Calif Inserting the Seed Insects — Nursery Free From Insects Injurious to Citrus Tree* Insecticides hilluenceof Stock on Hud Indications of Buds J» N.-wly Planted Trees " Want of Irrigation Irrigation of Nursery '• " Newly Planted Trees " Various Methods •' of Orchard A Matter of Education ^••ason " Fertilization Lobeoonfiidered Implements for Budding " Clearing Land •• Laying oil' Orchard.... " Pruning Konah Orange 22 Kid (Jlove Orange 22 Key to Septuple System 50 Knobby Lemon Si; Lowlands jo Location of Orange Orchard 40 Land— Clearing and Preparing 41 Laying Off Nursery :!2 " " Orchard 43 Lacerated Roots 53 Low System'of Pruning 00 Long Wait 08 Lemons 81 " —Importations 82 —Propagation and Culture.. 82-85 —Report of Committee on ,s2 u — Analyses S3 " —Tests S3 " —Budding on Orange Stock 85 " —Budded Varieties 81 — Lisbon =£ — Preparing for Market 8u — Sulphuring s7 — Curing s7 Lemon Peel Scale.... <>5 Lisbon Lemon 80 Limes .. s«» Lands ..................................... n Mesas ................................................... 12 Maltese Blood Oranges ......................... 22 Mediterranean Sweet Oranges .............. 21 Mandarin ( ) ranges ................................ 22 Moisture— Danger of Too Much ........... :;o Marking Trees .................................... -i:j Methods Established of Laying oil' ..... -i:: Misnomer Corrected ............................. 4s Mesa Irrigation .................................... .',«» Mulching— Propagating Boxes ............ itO " —Orchard .............................. :.<> Manures at Hand ................................. (»3 Markets for Fruit ................................. 7:i uan Orange ............................. 22 Nursery -Planting ............................... :;i " — T^ocation of ........................... ::i — (ieneral Requirements .......... :;2 " —Taking Trees from ................ 51 Nnniborof Trees to Acre— Square ........ 40 " " " " " —Quincunx ... is "• " '* " " — Sftptupli* ..... 51 New Growth ......................................... 54 Numbering Orangea ............................. 72 INDEX. vn PAQB Observations to Begin With ................. 1 Objects and;Advantaijesof Propagating House ................................................ :>'° outcome of Propagation ....................... •"•! original JUids ....................................... :!s orange On-hard— Location ................... 40 Over Irrigation .................................... «>~ old/Way of Irrigating .......................... ">s orange Treo in Bearing ........................ <>'•> Overbear — Tendency to ........................ '»!» Proiit of Orange Culture ................... --Hi 'apcr Kind St. Michael Orange ............. 22 'uinalo Orange ................................ 22-80 'ropagation of Oranges ........................ -7 'ropagating House .............................. -•' 'reparing Land .................................... 41 Planting Nursery ................................. 33 Planting an Orchard ............................. 53 Planting Chain .................................... 44 " " lor Quincunx ................ 47 " Board ..................................... 53 Puddling Trees .................. . ................. 52 Periods of Growth ................................ 51 Pruning Nursery ...................... -> .......... 34 44 Bud Sprout .............................. 38 44 Additional, Planted Trees ........ 54 44 —Objects .................................... 5U 44 —Two Systems ........................... GO Plowing Land ............ ' ........................ 42 44 Orchard ................................. 55 Poison for Gophers .............................. 04 Props .................................................... 70 Packing Season ..................................... 71 Picking, Packing and Shipping ........... 70 Picker— The Best ................................. 71 Packing ................................................ 71 Packing Boxes ................... . ................. 72 Preservation of Fruit ........................... 70 Pergande's Oran ge Scale ...................... 05 Quincunx System ................................ 47 44 —Misapplication of Term ... 40 Retrospect of Orange Culture .............. 2 Riverside Navel Orange ........................ 21 Room for Access and Working Nursery 32 Rebud/ling ..................... ...................... 3s Rocks— Look Out For ........................... 40 Rectangle— Establishing ....................... 44 Rules for Computing No. of Trees.. 4(>-4S~51 Rules for Pruning ................................ <;i Roots— Lacerated ................................. 5:5 Rabbits ... ..<;.'> TAKF: lied Scalo <>'> Ripening — Time of 70 Rejuvenating Old Trees 71 Red Scale !»l 4» u of Florida !'l Remedies for St-ale !>7 Status of Orange Industry 13 Statistics of Orange Groves 14 Striker, The 2s Seeds, Orange 2S 44 Extracting 28 Stamper, A. 2«.» Sprinkling Propagating Boxes 2U Stock— Condition for Budding 3U 44 — Age for Budding 3(> " Cutting and Inserting Bud 37 Systems of Arranging, Three 45 Square System 45 Septuple System 48-50 Soil for Propagating 27 44 " Nursery 32 '' " Orange Orchard 40 1 * —Preparation for Nursery 32 44 — Condition for Balling 52 Standard Lowered by Repeated Bud- ding 38 Smut on Orange Trees -. fi<> Sprayer. 07 Sorting Fruit 71 Staking — Square, Quincunx, Septu- ple 44-47-50 Selecting Trees 12 Seasons— Various for Transplanting 51 Sacking Trees 52 Settling Earth in Planting 54 Sprouts—Removing 54 « —Water , 38 Suckers 54 Slow Starting 55 Sub-Irrigation : 58 Squirrels (55 Squirrel Exterminators 65 Scale Insects.... Soft Orange Scale 95 Spraying Trees 07 Thin-Skinned St. Michael Orange 22 Tangerine Orange 22 Vlll INDEX, Topography of Nursery ."!2 Time to Begin Clearing 42 " for Planting Seeds 27 " " Budding :K " Lout in Planting 54 " of Pruning 61 Twine for Budding 86 Tying Stocks :;7 Tiding Over the Long Wait 68 Tendency to Overbear •><» Thinning Frnit 6<» " " —Shortcut 70 Trees— Selecting 42 11 —Good Way to Judge 13 Trimming Trees Before Transplanting. .".7 Transplanting— Three Method* 57 Thumb Pruning 61 Traps for Gophers 60 Triangular Arrangement 50 Unnecessary Stakes, Pull up 48 Viu'foti*'* °f Oranges 23 " — Designating -*>4 "Wilson's Best Orange 22 WolfskillV •' " 22 Weeding Propagating I'»ox«'s 31 Widney Transplanter 33 Weeds — Nursery Free From 31 Word to the Wise 30 Water for Orange Orchard 40 Winds 40 Washing Trees oi-GO-DT Wrapping Stocks 04 Water Sprouts 54 White Scale «>« Working, Watching and Waiting 67 When Budded Trees Yield GS u Seedling " '* 68 PART I. THE SUBJECT GENERALLY DISCUSSED. THE ORANGE, ITS CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA, CHAPTER I. A FEW.OBSERVATIONS TO BEGIN WITH. There is that about the cultivation of the orange which attracts people. Call it a glamour or what you will, the fact re- mains that many who have hardly given a second thought to horticulture their lives long, seeing the orange tree, fall be- neath its spell, and become henceforth its most ardent devotees;— toiling for it, spending their money for it, waiting long and patiently for it, and even undergoing privations that they may possess it. I do not know that this subtle influence is capable of analysis; I only know that it exists. But sometimes in thinking upon this subject the fancy has struck me that the orange tree knows very well how to gauge a man— has the faculty, so to speak, of approaching him on every side at once. Is he a lover of the beautiful? Then he must be delighted with its trim body and symmetrical branches; its dark evergreen foliage, with the yellowish new growth peeping out a-top; its bloom that rivals the tuberose in delicacy and fragrance; its fruit like apples of gold in pictures of silver. Has lie a fancy for out-door life? The tree invites him to share with it the fresh air and sunshine. Does he possess the true horticultural instinct?— does he like to see things grow and make them grow? The orange re- wards him doubly for every attention he bestows. Does his grosser nature crave the good things of this world? No fruit is more- luscious. And iinally, is there, underlyi»g the- poetry, the industry, the skill, the- appe- tite of the man, a shade— just a shadfe— of" cupidity? There the orange tree tou«lies» him again. You see it has measured him very>accu^ rately ; it knows his strong points andJhis weak points; it averages him and takes him for what he is worth i His own wife couldn't have done the thing better. In most parts of the United States the tendency of population is toward thecity^ Not only does the farmer's boy leave thfr country to seek out the coveted clerksbipy but the farmer himself, arrived at a com^ fortable affluence, is often disposed to move into town, either on the pretext of giving the children a better schooling, or that he may engage in trade, or because the farm labors and cares are too arduous for his years. In California the move- ment is in the opposite direction. People go from the city to the country. Our fruit colonies are filled up with retired pros- fessional and business men. In some in- stances they are men that have adopted farming as a sanitary measure; but again, many are to be fonnd in their very prime and vigor who lead this life purely as » matter of choice. Some of them, possessed of wealth, education and refinement, seefc THE ORANGE; the country for the delights nowhere else to be found, surrounding themselves there with all the elegancies of a city home. And if upon occasion the rich man choose to pull off his coat and bear the brnnt of toil, who shall say that he will not enjoy his dinner the better and sleep the sounder o' nights thereafter? The field pros es inviting to people of all classes and condition*. The young man, just starting out to make his way in the world, cultivate* his trees and vines along- side the superannuated minister; and across the way is the farm of a lady who quit school-teaching because she tired of its drudgery. Many men who continue in business or professional practice in town have their villas in the suburbs, or their country homes of easy access, where they live beneath their own vine and fig tree, and cultivate their own orange. And if long-time residents are thus drawn a^ay from I he city, attracted by the charm of out-door life and the pleasure of horticulture in this semi-tropical cli- mate, what wonder that many who come from the snow-bound East and North are captivated and impelled in the same di- rection! Orange culture must continue as it has begun, an industry suited to the most in- telligent and refined peoplo. It is better adapted to small farms than large. It produces better results under the eye and hand of the master than when dele- gated to hired labor. As it requires both skill and industry, it gives healthful oc- cupation to the mind as well as the body. While the growing of an orange orchard involves something of an investment, supplemented by several years of waiting, and no small amount of labor and care, the reward at last is ample. If ono elect to bridge over the waiting and work by purchasing a grove already in bearing, ho will have to pay pretty good wages to tho man that built tho bridge. CHAPTER II. A RETROSE'ECT, AND A Will it pay to raise oranges? Yes, and no. It will pay to raise good fruit; it will not pay to raise poor. Simple as this proposition appears when reduced to print, it has taken a good many of us here in California a long lime to find it out. While experience has already dem- onstrated that this survival of the fittest is inevitable, we will yet be compelled to acknowledge that it is reasonable and just. The time was, and not so long ago either, when many of our people rushed into orange growing as they would have rushed into a speculation in stocks. Car- ried away by the prospect of great re- wards, they engaged in the industry Llindly and recklessly;— planted orchards in localities not at all suited to them; j lauted scrubby or infested trees; planted beyond their means; planted without a knowledge of orange growing, and aome- tam's with no natural taste for horticul- QUESTION ANSWERED. hire; planted, planted, planted anywhere, anyhow, anything, if only they might possess themselves of an orange grove. Taking advantage of this furor, the Tew nurserymen that carried citrus stocks put their prices up to a dollar or two a tree, sold out, got rich. Then the frenzy of speculation extended to tho propaga- tion of orange seeds for relays of nur- series, and a wider extension of planta- tions. Nursery projects were inaugurated, ranging through eyery degree from the hundred-acre joint stock enterprise to tho row of oyster cans which materfcnnittfas established in the back yard to augment the family income. From this planting came trees that were good, bad and in- different, of course, but tho average was, if possible, worse than tho preceding sup- ply. And when this heterogeneous stock was fairly on the market,— then the del- uge; or rather, tho contrary. ITS CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. The dry season of 1S7U-7 caino on, fol- lowed by the wave of hard times which swept across the country. People who had planted on insufficient capital were the first to feel the pressure. Many were obliged to surrender their places. Joint- stock nursery projects failed. Some nur- serymen sold out, or wore closed out, and left the country. Thus the furor of orange planting received a check. Nursery stock being of slow sale, began to fall under the operation of the law of the survival of the fittest. Most of the orange orchards already planted were too valuable to be abandoned, no matter what the fate of the planter might be, so somebody stopped in to carry them forward. Thus it was that, through all the times of depression and discouragement, the industry itself went steadily and surely forward. The un- precedented frosts which occurred in the winter of 1879-SO, gave a rude awakening to some people who planted in low, cold places. Not only was the nursery stock frosted to the ground, but in many in- stances five and six-year-old trees wore destroyed. The devastation among lem- ons and limes was oven greater than among oranges. These frosts demon- strated that there were certain localities in this country not at all adapted to orange culture. Some people, a little more fortu- nate in their locations, managed to weath- er through the cold* year, and oven two or three cold years afterwards, but for them there still remained a rude awakening when they found that their trees, having reached the bearing age, were capable of producing only an inferior quality of fruit. The season of 1882-3 was the most de- pressing for the orange industry that we have ever known. The trees set unusu- ally full, and this alone had a tendency to dwarf the fruit and detract from its good qualities. Then there were late frosts so severe that some of the fruit was nipped, and its juices injured or totally destroyed. When the market opened the weather was cold and rainy, and people were in no mood for eating sour fruit. Prices went down. Some producers and dealers who shipped inferior oranges, in spite of the unfavorable outlook, found that they had their trouble for their pains and a freight bill to settle besides. Then it was that some superficial people began to inquire, "Will orange growing pay?" "Haven't we been deluded all this time in thinking it a remunerative industry?" Those who got started right ; who plant- ed on high, warm, mellow soils; whotook good care of their trees, and followed orange growing as an industry, not a speculation, are the ones who suffered no loss through the time of depression, and who are now firmly grounded in the belief that orange growing pays. Last season while the average oranges of the lower valley were going at a dollar a box, and a slow sale at that; while many trees hung full of little fruit, not salable at any price, I talked with an orange grower of Pasa- dena, who was sending off his large, luscious Washington or Riverside Navels, and realizing therefor $3.50 to §4 a box,— "And if I had a hundred thousand boxes," he said, "I could sell every one of them at these prices. Will orange growing pay? Well, I rather think it will. It is to-day the best enterprise a man can en- gage in." CHAPTER III. ANTIQUITY OF THE CITRUS FAMILY. Over fifty years ago Gallesio wrote, in French, a learned work on "Citrus Cul- ture," which, in more recent times, the Horticultural Society of Florida translated and published in English. Both original und translation are now out of print, and are only to be found in treasured collec- tions. From this work I am able to glean some curious facts, as well as some very ingenious and erudite surmises about the earliest record of the citrus family. Galleseo holds that the lemon and or- THE OKANGE; ange originated in Southern Asia, and in that portion of the East Indies lying be- yond the Ganges. Up to and including the earlier, centuries of the Empire of the Caesars, these fruits had not been brought from those climates where they were in- digenous. They grew without culture in the native groves, the hand of man not having yet appropriated them as orna- ments for his garden. The fruit was even unknown to the Roiryms, a people who in the age of their triumph sought out every luxury which ihe world of their conquest afforded. Pliny, in the account of his In- dian voyage, makes no mention or either orange or citron. Other writers on this re- gion, such as Nearchus, one of Alexander's captains, and Arianus and lambolus are equally silent on the subject of citrus fruits. To the Arabs who, under the leadership of Mohammed, extended their conquests into Asia and Africa much faster than any people before them, belongs the credit of first disseminating the orange. They ac- climatized the trees in Syria, Africa, Spain and some European islands. Occupying a position advantageous and favorable to the commercial spirit and love of luxury which succeeded the fury of conquest, the Arabs naturally learned of and appreci- ated many exotic plants peculiar to the regions they had conquered or to adjoin- ing countries. They were fond of medi- cine and agriculture, in which they espe- cially excelled. To them we owe the knowledge of many plants, perfumes alid Oriental aromatics, such as musk, nut- megs, mace and cloves. In their medi- cines we for the first time hear of the chemical change known as distillation, which appears to have originated in the desire to steal from nature the perfumes of flowers and aroma of fruits. It is cer- tain that the orange was known to their physicians from the commencement of the fourth century of the Hegira. The Damascene has given in his Antidotary a recipe for making oil of oranges and their seeds (oleum de citrangata et oleum de cit- ranguloru m seminibus). Another Arabian physician, Avicenna, employed the juice of the bigarade (bitter orange) in a medi- cinal syrup which he called alkedere. The orange was from the first valued not alone for the beauty of its foliage and quality of its fruit and for its medicinal uses, but also for the aroma of its flowers, of which essences were made. Abd-Allatif, an Arabian writer of the twelfth century of our era, says: "The round citron (otrodj modawar) was brought from India since the year 300 of the Hegira (A. D. 922). It was first sowed in Oman (part of Arabia), from thence carried to Irok (part of old Persia) and Syria, be- coming very common in the houses ol Tarsus and other frontier cities of Syria, at Antioch, upon the coasts of Syria, in Palestine and in Egypt. One knew it not before, but it lost much of its sweet odor and fine color which it had in India, be- cause it had not the same climate, soil and all that which is peculiar to that country." The lemon appeared perhaps a little la- ter in these different countries, for we see no mention of it either in the Damascene or in Ayicenna, but its description meets the eye in works of Arabian writers of the twelfth century, especially Ebn Beitar, who gave it an article in his dictionary of simple remedies. The Arabs invaded Sicily about the be- ginning of the ninth century, and planted the orange tree in that island. The citrine apples of Leon d'Ostia date from 1002, and were regarded as objects rare and precious enough to be offered as gifts to prince*. Nicolas Specialis, in his history of Sicily, written in the fourteenth century, recount - i n g the devastation by the army of the Duke of Calabria, in 1383, in the vicinity of Paler- mo, says that it did not spare even the trees of sour apples (pommes acides), called by the people arangi, which had adorned, since old time, the royal palace of Cubba. After the Arabians, the Crusaders were the next agency for the extension of citrus culture. They entered Asia Minor as con- querors, and thence spread themselves as traders into all parts of Asia. They were not mere soldiers, but brave men drawn from their families :by religious enthusi- asm, and who, in consequence, would hold fast to their country and their homes. They could not see without coveting these charming trees which embellish the vicin- ity of Jerusalem, with whose exquisite ITS CULTUKE IN CALIFORNIA. fruits nature had favored the climates of Asia. It was at this time that Europe enriched its orchards by many of these trees, and that the French* princes carried into their country the damson, the St. Catharine (a pear), the apricot from Alexandria, and other species indigenous to those regions. Sicilians, Genoese and Provencals trans- ported to Palermo, St. Remo and Hyeres lemon and orange trees. Jaques de Vitry, a historian of the thirteenth century, who had been in Palestine with the Crusaders, and who accordingly speaks ex cathedra, has this to say of the subject: " Besides many trees cultiyated in Italy, Genoa, France and other parts of Europe, we find here (in Palestine) species peculiar to the I'ountry, and of which some are sterile and others bear fruit. Here are trees bear- ing very beautiful apples— the color of cit- ron— upon which is distictly seen the mark of a man's tooth. This has given them the common name of pomme d'Adam (Adam's apple); others produced sour fruit, of a disagreeable taste, which are called limons. Their juice is used for sea- soning food, because it is cool, pricks the palate, and provokes appetite. * * * There is a species of cedar called cedre 'maritime, whose plant is small but pro- ductive, giving very fine fruits as large as a man's head. Some call them citrons, or pommes citrons. These fruits are formed of a triple substance, and have three dif- ferent tastes. The first is warm, the sec- ond is temperate, the last is cold. Some say that this is the fruit of which God commanded in Leviticus: * Take you the first day of the year the fruit of the finest tree.' We see in this country another species of citrine apples, borne by small trees, and of which the cool part is less of a disagreeable and acid taste; these the natives call orenges." From Naples and Sicily the orange and lemon trees must have been carried into the Roman States, into Sardinia and Cor- sica and to Malta. The islands of the Archipelago first received them, because, belonging in great part to the Genoese and Venetians, it is probable they were the in- termediate points whence the Crusaders of Genoa and Venice transported the plants to their homes. The use of the lemon as seasoning for food, brought from Palestine to Liguria, to Provence and to Sicily, penetrated to the interior of Italy and France. The taste for confections was propagated in Europe with the introduction of sugar, and this delicate food became at once a necessary article to men in easy circum- stances, and a luxury upon all tables. It was above all as confections that the Ag- rumi (lemons) entered into commerce, and we see by the records of Savona that they were sent into cold parts of Italy, where people were very greedy for them. After having cultivated these species for the use made of their fruits, they soon cultivated them as ornaments for the gar- den. The monks began to fill with these trees the courts of their monasteries, in climates suited to their continual growth, and soon one found no convent not sur- rounded by them. Indeed, the courts and gardens of these houses show us now trees of great age, and it is said that the old tree, of which we now see a register in the court of the convent of St. Sabina at Rome, was planted by St. Dominick about the year 1200. This fact has no other foundation than tradition, but this tradi- tion, preserved for many centuries, not only among the monks of the convent, but also among the clergy of Rome, is re- ported by Augustin Gallo, who,' in 1559, speaks of this orange as a tree existing since time immemorial. If we refuse to credit its planting to St. Dominick, we must at least refer it to a period soon after — that is, to the end of the thirteenth century, at the latest. In their spread among the most civil- ized peoples of the earth the orange and lemon finally penetrated into the colder latitudes, and perhaps we owe to the desire of enjoying their flowers and fruit the in- vention of hot-houses, afterwards called in France orangeries. This agricultural lux- ury was unknown in Europe before the introduction of the citron tree. In the fourteenth century people had begun to erect buildings designed to create for ex- otic plants an artificial climate. But at the beginning of the fifteenth century orangeries passed from king's gardens to those of the people, chiefly in countries where they were not compelled to heat THE ORANGE; them by fire. About the middle of the seventeenth century this luxury was very general, and we see distinguished by their magnificence and gradeur the orangeries of the Farnese family at Parma; of the Cardinal Xantes, Aldobrandiui and Pio at Rome; of the Elector Palatine at Hei- delberg; and of Louis XIII in Franco. In all the civilized parts of Europe the orangerie is now considered an embellish- ment necessary to all country seats, and houses of pleasure. In nomenclature oranges and lemons had a most difficult time in establishing themselves. The lemon tree, first brought into Egypt as a variety of citron, was for a long time designated by European wri- ters under the generic name of citrus, al- though in Italy and the south of France the people had known it from the begin- ning by the name of limon. We find in botanical works citrus limon or mala h- monia and sometimes citrus medica. la Arabia the word first applied to the orange was arindj. This in Syria was modified to narengi. The orange appeared in Italy under the name of orenges, which the people modi- fied, according to the pronunciations of the different sections, into aringo, naran- 20, aranzctj aranzo, citrone, cetrangolo, melaranco, melangofo, arancio. The Pro- vengals also received this tree under the name of orenges, arid have changed it from time to time, in different provinces, into arrangi, airange, orenge, and finally,. ORANGE. During several centuries the Latin au- thors found themselves embarrassed in designating this fruit, which had no name in their language. The first who spoke of it used a phrase indicating its character- istics, accompanying it with the popular name of arangi, Latinized into orenges, orangias, arantium. Jaques de Vitry calls oranges poma cftrina, adding, "The Arabs call them orenges." Nicolas Spe- cialis designates them as acri pomomm arborcSj observing that the people call them arangias. Mathews Silvaticus first gave to the orange the name of citrangu- lum. This last designation was received in the language of science for more than a century. Finally, little by little, were ad- opted the vulgar Latinized names in use among other writers, such as arangium,. arancium, anarantium, nerantium, auran- tmm, pomen aureum. The Greeks followed in the same steps. They have either Grecianized the name of narenge, which was in use among Syrian Arabs, or they received it from the Crusa- ders from the Holy Land; and have ad- opted it in their language, calling itneran- zion. In this day and age we are satisfied to call the fruit, in English ORANGE and LEMON; in French, orange and citron; in German, orange, citrone; in Spanish, na- ratija, limon. CHAPTER IV. INTRODUCTION OF THE ORANGE IN CALIFORNIA. Father Palou, the historian of the early California Missions, says; "On the 10th of August [1771] the Fa- ther Friar Pedro Carnbon and Father Angel Somera, guarded by ten soldiers with the muleteers and beasts" requisite to carry the necessaries, set out from San Diego, and traveled northerly by the same route as the former expedition for Mon- terey had gone. After proceeding about forty leagues they arrived at the river called Temblores [the Los Angeles river], and while they were in the act of examin- ing the ground in order to fix a proper place for the mission, a multitude of In- dians, all armed and headed by two cap- tains, presented themselves, setting up horrid yells, and seeming determined to oppose the establishment of the mission. The Fathers, fearing that war would en- sue, took out a piece of cloth with the image of our Lady de los Dolores, and held it up to the barbarians. This was no sooner done than the whole were quiet, being subdued by the fight of this most precious image; and throwing on the ITS CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. ground their bows and arrows, the two captains came running with great haste to lay the beads which they brought about their necks at the feet of the sovereign queen, as proof of their entire regard; manifesting at the same time that they wished to be at peace with us. They then informed the whole of the neighborhood of what had taken place; and the people in large numbers, men, women and chil- dren, soon came t© see the Holy Virgin; bringing food which they put before her, thinking she required to eat as others. In this manner the Gentiles of the mission of San Gabriel were so entirely changed that they frequented the establishment without reserve, and hardly knew how much to manifest their pleasure that the Spaniards had come to settle in their country. Un- der these favorable auspices the Fathers proceeded to found a mission with the ac- customed ceremonies; and celebrated the first mass under a tree on the nativity of the Virgin, the eighth of September, 1771." In the order of establishment San Ga- briel was fourth among the missions of Upper California. By reason of its rich soil and abundance of water, and its large number of neophytes brought into service, it soon advanced to the front rank in pro- ductiveness and wealth. At San Gabriel Mission was formed the nucleus of California orange-growing. As to the time and circumstances of the first planting, history is silent. The archives of the Mission church, which alone could be accepted as absolute authority, are lost. Tradition even is not much to be relied upon among that class of people who have lived longest in and about the Mission. An old gardener, whom the writer found in the Mission orchard on the occasion of a recent visit, shrugged his shoulders in the aggravating, non-committal way of his race when questioned as to the age of the trees. 41 Tienen multos, multos anos, Senor!" They are many, many years old, MI. I don't know how many. I think more than seventy. He underestimated their years. Father Bot, the priest of the Mission, fixes the planting of the first orange or- chard at about the year 1804. The present church building was erected in that year, and, reasoning from analogy, he concludes that the site of the grove must have been chosen with reference to the building. He thinks the trees were propagated from seed brought from San Rafael in Lower California. Col. J. J.Warner, our "oldest inhabit- ant," settled in Los Angeles county in 1831. At the time of his coming the or- ange trees in the Mission garden were twenty-five or thirty years old and had long been in bearing. This agrees with Father Bot's calculation as to the time of their planting. Three several Fathers Sanchez admin- istered the affairs of San Gabriel Mission at different periods, and to the first of these, Father Tonias, belongs the distinc- tion of introducing the orange. That he had an abiding faith in the success of his horticultural venture is attested by the fact that he imported iron with which to enclose the orchard. This iron, however, was never used, owing probably to the death or removal of the enterprising Padre, and after rusting in uselessness for some years at the Mission, a portion of it was purchased by Don Luis Vignes (1834> and brought to the city of Los Angeles. Here it was used to enclose the second orange orchard in the State. It is said that Don Luis procured from the Mission thirty-five large trees, which he trans- planted to his place on Aliso street, near the historic Aliso (sycamore) tree, from which the street derives its name. He es- tablished at first a sort of exotic garden, enclosing his clump of oranges tightly and roofing the space with wire-netting. Within the enclosure he kept a flock of quail. Later, the Don increased the num- ber of his trees until he wa» the possessor of a considerable grove. But he did not follow his expensive method of fencing and roofing throughout. Other orchards followed. The most no- table was that of William Wolfskill, plant- ed in the city oi Los Angeles, seven years after that of Don Luis Vignes. There was another four or five miles north of the Mission, known as La Huerta del Cuate> The Garden of the Twin, which, with one or two intermediate transfers, finally pass- ed into the hands of Don Benito Wilson > THE CHANGE; "by whom it was carefully nurtured and extended by new plantations. But between the planting of the original orchard at the Mission San Gabriel and the several groves above mentioned a long period must have transpired — perhaps twenty or twenty-five years, during which the Mission orchard was the sole repre- sentative of this fruit in California. Even after the extension of the industry, for many years oranges held no place among •the recognized products of the country. Mr. Alexander Forbes, who wrote one of the earliest works on California— a book printed in England in 1835 — cites wheat, maize, barley, pease, beans, potatoes, hemp, grapes, olives and grasses as the principal crops, but makes no mention of •oranges. Ex-Governor John G. Downey, writing •of the early cultivation of the orange, says: " In those days, though there was plen- ty of energy and intelligence among the Sjwmish pioneers, it was a difficult under- taking for the ranchero to build a fence to protect his orchard from the multitude of vild stock that surrounded him, even to he door of his pueblo home. * * * " The orchard of orange trees at San Ga- Oriel was scarcely in bearing when Don Luis Vignes planted his orchard in Los Angeles. Next followed that of William Wolfskill, and next, that of Don Manuel Requena. These little orchards were en- • closed by an adobe wall, as were those of the Missions of San Gabriel and San Fer- nando. Many of the old families followed these examples by planting a few trees in their respective court-yards. I can safely say there was not a tree planted with a view to profit, and not an orange sold until long after the advent of the Ameri- •cans. The fruit was cultivated for home use, and for the use of friends less fortu- nately situated. " In the year 1853 Matthew Keller and .Dr. Halsey obtained seeds from Central America and Hawaii, and planted nur- series. Dr. Halsey 's nursery was the most extensive. While this plantation was very young, the doctor was crossed in *,omr love matters, studied Andrew Jack- son Davis more thoroughly than he did Downing, and went off on a spiritual mis- sion East, leaving his nursery in care of Judge I. S. K. Ogier. The latter sold the nursery for a song to William Wolfskill, whose place was adjoining, and the or- chard now the property of Miss Francisca Wolfskill is the result. It is a very pretty property — perhaps the largest bearing or- ange orchard in the United States. At least I have not seen any as large in Flor- ida, Louisiana or Cuba. It is a pleasure to look at, is a source of great profit, and could not be in better hands. " The orchard of Mr. Wilson was once a portion of the Mission of San Gabriel. In the unconstitutional sale of the missions this portion fell to Hugo Reed. Mr. Wil- son bought it in 1852 of Reed's widow. There were then on the place several fruitful trees, which are still in vigorous bearing, and will be for several genera- tions. Mr. Wilson has industriously and intelligently added to them; not at any great cost, for he raised his trees in his own nursery, and continues to raise them, so that he has them always on hand with- out expense." The orchard of William Wolfskill, al- luded to above, was no doubt the first that was planted in California with an idea of profit. Mr. Wolfskill's neighbors ridi- culed him, saying that he would get no fruit in his lifetime. It was a severe trial of patience to maintain the trees through all the years requisite to bring them into bearing, and all that for a mere experi- ment. At the same time vineyards of three or four years' growth were paying handsomely, with no more labor. This fact came near tipping the balance against the trees, but Mr. Wolfskill's German te- nacity finally pievailed, and the tree* were brought to fruition. He lived to en- joy his oranges for twenty years, and they gave him, some years, an income of a thousand dollars an acre. The last crop disposed of in his lifetime from about twenty-eight acres sold on the trees for $25,000. From 1857 to 1862 orange-growing was greatly checked by the insects, which caused an almost total failure of the fruit, But in 1862 this pest abated, and there was a good crop. There were then in tho whole State only about 25,000 trees, two- thirds of which were in the Wolfskill or- chard. ITS CULTURE IN CALIFOKNIA. Since 1862 the spirit of modern progress has been infused into orange-growing, and the area of plantations has increased with marvelous rapidity. In 1880 the en- tire number of orange trees in the State was estimated at one million, a quarter of which were in bearing. In 1882 the bear- ing trees had increased to half a million. The ratio of increase for the years 1883 ,000 per acre ?" As the market goes, Mr. Twogood does not realize $3 per box for his fruit; but, at half that price, provided the crop holds up to estimate, his returns will be $500 an acre. If, in the evolution of the orange indus- try, the time shall come when a grove in full bearing yields only $100 an acre net, the profit ought still to satisfy a man of moderate ambition. With ten acres in trees, yielding a revenue of $1,000 a year, and the hundred and one accessories and economies of country life, a man ought to be able to live and support a family. Ho may enjoy not only the substantial com- forts, but many of the elegancies of life. This is an independence. *Iu order to avoid a false impression, I should say that such land is no longer to be had in River- side at $25 an acre, but is worth, unimproved, teu times that figure. CHAPTER XI. CHARACTERISTICS OF THK ORANGE. Scientists tell us that the orange is a berry. The pulp, tho separating mem- branes and the skin are but a thickening of the pericarp or seed vessel . In this respect the orange resembldfe the grape (also a berry) and is totally different from the apple, in which all of the parts of the flower — calyx, corolla, stamens and pistil — are wrought into the fruit. The natural office of the orange, then, is to bear seed. Before a thousand years of evolution made the orange what we know it today, the tree bore beans— or at least produced its seed in pods clustered together at the end of a stem. If you will peel an orange ITS CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 19 and separate it along the membranes into its various segments, yon will have before you these seed pods in something like their original form. Doubtless as it first grew, the pulp was much less than we find in our abnormally developed fruit; — there may have been little of the pod ex- cept the seeds and the leathery skin which enclosed them. But finally this hunch of seed pods adhered at their bases, and the union extended to the apex, uniting all the segments into a sin- gle fruit of spherical form. With this union, the portions of the thick rind which came within the sphere degener- ated into the thin membranes which we now lind. The development of the pulp into the full, juicy tissues of the perfect fruit is largely the work of man, in care- fully selecting the best species, improving them by cultivation, and transmitting the good qualities by the process .of budding. Note the fact that the development of these juicy tissues has been at the expense of the seeds and cuticle. The highest type of budded orange* is nearly seedless and has a thin rind. When you find an orange "sport" which shows a tendency to split at the bloom end into a number of pod-like seg- ments, or to show decided creases in the rind along the lines of the segments, as though it had half a notion to divide itself up, remember that the tree which bore ihis fruit was thinking of its great, great, great grandmother, that passed away a couple of thousand years ago. This "sport," as well as all others, illustrates the natural tendency of all organisms, plant or animal, to revert to an earlier rendition. The primitive form of the or- ange was what scientists term "apocar- pous." The orange tree, compared with many other trees that are adapted to a sub-trop- ical climate, is of slow growth. It requires about sixteen years for the seedling to at- tain what might be called its full normal proportions. It then stands about twerjty- tive feet high,* with a spread of branches *The size of bndded trees varies so much from the standard seedling that I do not attempt to can- vass the matter in this article. There are dwarf, *eini-dwarf and ftandard buds, all of which follow their respective Habits when set upon a seedling s-tock, and make trees from five to twenty-five feet in height. of about the same distance, and a circum- ference of trunk, near the ground, of nearly three feet. The seventy-year old orange tree of the Mission orchard, Sai\ Gabriel, which I measured, showed a girth of forty-two inches. The inference is fail- that, between the ages of sixteen and sev- enty, it had increased its circumference of trunk only six inches. As the orange tree attains its maturity, its cylindrical trunk changes to one of eccentric longitu- dinal corrugations, although, if healthy, the bark still remains smooth. The wood of the orange tree is close- grained, hard and susceptible to a fine polish. It is of a clear, yellow color, em- bodying a suggestion of the fruit itself. The top of the tree contains another sug- gestion of the fruit, for, if allowed to take its natural bent, with little pruning, its contour is almost spherical, like the orange.. The leaves are ovate in form, slightly serrated, and of thick, leathery texture. When newly forming they are of a bright yellow hue, but as they mature they change to a dark green, with the upper surface presenting a decided gloss. The tree is an evergreen, and it has numerous seasons of growth during the year, with slight dormant intermissions. I once took careful note of a tree at my place, with the following result : On the first of January there was a little new growth already formed. This made some progress dur- ing the month, and hardened up about the middle of February. In April another growth began, and matured in May. About the middle of July the third grow- ing period commenced, and this time the tree made more wood than in both pre- vious growths combined. By the last of August the yellow leaves had all turned to their normal shade, and the stems were hardened. In October there was a slight growth. In December the shoots started again, but this was the same growtii I had noted at the beginning of the year. Thus I found four distinct growing periods. • It is riot unusual for trees to make even nve growths in a year under favorable circum- stances, while writh retarding causes they may make only one or two. TUP. times of starting and maturing may also vary al- most a month, according to circumstances 20 THE OEANGE; of irrigation, cultivation, temperature, etc. The dormant periods of the orange tree may be generally defined as follows : The middle of March to the middle of April. The month of June. The month of September. The middle of November to the middle of December. The orange tree blossoms early in Feb- ruary, and continues in flower until the last of March. The blossom is a pure white, of the most exquisite texture, and its fragrance is so great as to be almost surfeiting. As a typical flower, twined into a wreath to surmount the head of a bride, nothing could be more delicately suggestive of beauty, purity and sweet- ness. But those who haye observed the orange flower only in the conventional bridal wreath have seen but a poor coun- terfeit presentment of the real blossom. The fruit sets in February or March and attains its maturity one year thereafter, when the tree blossoms again. At the time of blooming one may see it loaded with its golden fruitage and dazzling with bloom. The contrast of these colors with the dark green of the foliage forms a most enchant- ing picture. The tree is itself a bride, clothed in satin emerald, crowned with a snowy wreath and decked with precious jewels. The orange clings to its stem with great tenacity, and it is not unusual to find fruit of a former year's growth still on the tree when a second crop is attaining maturity. The quality deteriorates however if it is allowed to remain long after maturity. In time the juice is absorbed entirely, leaving the pulp a dry, spongy mass. Concerning the capacity of production, there is great variance. Mr. H. M. Beers has the largest tree in Riverside. It is Keventeen years old, and the trunk meas- ures three feet in circumference, or nearly twelve inches in diameter. At the age of nine years it bore about half a dozen or- anges; at eleven years it bore two thou- sand; at thirteen years it bore two thou- sand two hundred and fifty; at fifteen years it bore four thousand; at seventeen years, which brings it to the present sea- son, it contains, according to estimate, four thousand. Not every orange tree presents such a record as this, however. The orange tree revels in a high temper- ature. In fact, very warm weather is es- sential to the raising of good fruit. It is not sufficient that the warm weather occur in summer, but a high average must be maintained in winter as well, and the ex- treme should never fall below a certain, point. This point may be placed at 23 de- grees above zero F. — 9 degrees below the freezing temperature. A cold spell that reaches this extreme will destroy young orange trees in nursery and nip the ten- der growth of older trees. In the latter part of January, 1883, the thermometer reached 17 degrees above zero in many places in Southern California. That was an unprecedentedly cold wave. Oranges were frozen on the trees, and their juices utterly destroyed. The trees themselves were frosted at the extremities of their branches, but suffered no serious check. Younger trees were considerably injured, and nursery stock was frozen to the ground. The lemon trees suffered more than the orange, and many lime orchards were utterly destroyed. While the full-grown orange tree wili survive a good deal of cold weather, and is not destroyed by the extreme above named, it may still be set down as a safe proposition that the less frequently the thermometer goes below the freezing point (32 degrees above zero) the better it is for both tree and fruit. The orange is long-lived. An instance is on record of a tree in Italy living to the age of four hundred years. But that was with the most careful treatment, through successive generations, with repeated re- newals of the soil. As we grow the or- ange tree in the open air, with a minimum of attention, a century would probably be its full span. But a hundred years is a long time to exist on this earth, and after such a life of usefulness, if there is any better vegetable kingdom elsewhere, the orange tree ought to be allowed to go there. ITS CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. CHAPTER XII. BUDDED VARIETIES. Although there are a hundred or more named oranges, one might count on his lingers all the varieties that are in request for budding. The leading varieties are the Riverside Navel, Mediterranean Sweet, Paper Rind St. Michael and Maltese Blood, all foreign fruits. Some attention was paid a few years ago to the Konah, Wil- son's Best, Wolfskill's Best, Baldwin's Favorite, Du Roi, Australian Navel, Aca- pulco, Nicaraguan and some other varie- ties, but these no longer liold their own in the struggle for the survival of the fit- test. In fact every other orange is giving way to the Riverside Navel, which has come to be universally acknowledged the best. For variety, a small proportion of Mediterranean Sweet, St. Michael and Maltese Blood are planted, and it is likely that other kinds will find their way to a share of popular favor. But it must be a line orange that wrests the palm from the Riverside Navel. As public opinion wras a number of years in coming to this con- clusion however, and meanwhile the hon- ors were more or less divided, a large number of other varieties were planted and are coming into bearing. The budded fruit product of the State will be diversi- fied^enough to suit all requirements. For convenience of reference, I append a list of varieties grown in California, and also give a list of varieties grown in Flor- ida, which have not been introduced in this State. RIVERSIDE NAVEL — also known as Washington Navel, Umbilical, Bahia, Em- big ou). — Medium size, round, skin smooth and of fine texture ; nearly seedless ; juicy; high flavored; pulp melting; quality the best. The peculiarity which gives this fruit its name and marks it be- yond any question is a protuberance in the blossom end which closely re&embtes the human navel. This is in reality a lit- tle kernel, enveloped in the skin, which when examined proves to be an aborted orange. The tree is semi-dwarf, and has a few small thorns. In 1873 the Agricul- tural Department at Washington imported several orange trees from Bahia, Brazil. One of these was sent to Mrs. L. C. Tib- bits, of Riverside, San Bernardino county, this state, who distributed a few buds among some friends. But little attention was paid to the original tree or to its off- spring until 1879, when some of the fruits were exhibited. Their beautiful color, peculiar form, and excellent quality at- tracted immediate attention, and stimu- lated its propagation. It was named River- side Navel to distinguish it from the Aus- tralian Navel, introduced about the same time. The latter is distinctly ribbed lengthwise, of light color and inferior quality, while the Riverside is smooth, of a golden bronze tint and a fine texture ; satin-like skin ; its flavor is delicious- something like a combination of the best qualities of the Messina and Florida or- anges—and the fruit has the additional ad- vantage of few or no seeds. Since the Riverside Navel made its appearance it has eclipsed all competitors, and has taken first premiums wherever exhibited. Soon after it was brought to -public notice, Mr. T. W. Cover, of Riverside, became pro- prietor of the original stock, and he dis- seminated buds throughout the orange- growing portion of the State. MEDITERRANEAN SWEET.— Medium to large ; oval ; pulp and skin of fine tex- ture ; flavor delicate, less acid than any other variety of orange grown here ; near- ly seedless ; ripens late. The tree is a semi-dwarf, almost thornless, matures early, and has a tendency to overbear. Fruit should be thinned vigorously to in- sure a fair growth of wood and develop- ment of fruit remaining. Mr. Thos. A. Garey, who introduced this orange, saya of it : "About the year 1870 I imported several varieties of orange trees from Messrs. Ellwanger , in the ground where you wish to set the plant. Next the transplanter is set down over t ho plant, so that t.he stem and' leaves run up TRANSPLANTER COM- within theins4de PLETE. cylinder J5. Tne- outside cylinder is then passed down into- the ground, giving it a slight rotary mo- tion, until you have cut to the depth de- sired, generally two or four inches. In pressing down on the handles care mast be taken to keep the hands off the inside cylinder B, which must be left to move- freely. The rotary motion gives a sharp, drawing cut. After cutting down around the plant to> the depth required, lift the transplanter out of the ground. It will bring up the plant with a solid plug of earth, C, inside t he- cylinder. Now put the transplanter 001*- taining the plant into* the hole in the ground Z>, first cut. Set it down to the bottom of the hole, so that the bottom of the plug of earth rests on the bot- tom of the hole; place INSIDE CYLINDER, the two thumbs on top of the inside cylinder, retaining the hold on the handles with the fingers, and close tbe^ hand, thus drawing up the outside cylin- der, while the inside cylinder thus holds the plug of dirt in the hole. The plug of dirt is thus forced out of the transplanter as the wad is forced out of a pop-gun. When this is done, the plant, with a solid plug of earth, C, will: be left in a hole sur- 34 THE ORANGE; PLANT RAISED WITH PLUG OF EARTH. rounded by unmoved dirt. Tamp the earth a little to settle it about the plug, and the transplant- ing is complete. After a few experi- ments the work can )>e done with great rapidity. Concerning t h e planter Judge \Vid- ney says: "Three years ago I com- menced to set out some 200 acres of eucalyptus trees. I raised the plants and put them in boxes 20x24, setting them two inches apart —the usual plan. To set them out in .the field and not irri- gate, and do the work rapidly, was the question. The resul t was t his trail s planter. With it l!nl-» \r'lx!s.v, ',rRAXS~ one man will take the boxes of plants and set out <>oo to 1000 trees per day, nine feet apart. 1 eet •out over 100,000 plants, and not one plant jn 100 died from transplanting. '' IRRIGATION*.— As soon as planted the trees should be irrigated. This may be t>est accomplished by making a slight trench along each side of the row and a few inches therefrom, throwing the dirt away from the trees. Then lead the water -along, ami after it has thoroughly soaked away use a hoe to draw the displaced earth back. The dry soil being left on top acts as a mulch to prevent evapora- tion. Under no circumstances should the soil remain unstirred after an irrigation, as it will bake and dry out, leaving the trees in a worse condition than if they they had been given no water at all. If the weather be warm and dry at the time of planting your nursery, an irrigation <3ach week is not too much to begin with. The soil should not be allowed to dry within half an inch of the surface. Later, as the trees become well rooted, an irriga- tion each fortnight, and then one each month, will suffice. The second season the cultivation may be doue by horse- power. AFTER CARE.— Directly after planting equip yourself with knife or scissors and trim up the little trees. Some of them will have two or three stems, and some will be throwing an undue proportion of their vitality into some favored limb. Trim them to a single stem and start them up in the way they should go. Afterwards replace all trees that die, so as to keep your rows full and regular. When grown to the height of two or three feet, your trees, or a part of them, may re- quire staking. If so, don't neglect this part of the work. You may think that the stalk will be cut down after a while, in budding, and it doesn't make much difference whether it grows straight or not. Hut it does. The more symmetrical • you keep your nursery, the more pride you will take in it, the better you will do your work, and it will thrive propor- tionately. FKKK FROM IXSKOTS.— Watch your nur- sery with eagle e\*e that none of the pes- tiferous scale insects obtain lodgment there. If once thoroughly inoculated with red or white scale, it is all over with your project; nobody would buy the trees afterward, even though you succeeded in" clearing out the pests. It is a good plan »to wash the trees once or twice every year with a decoction of whale oil soap, as a measure of prevention. FREE FROM WEEDS.— I would enjoin the most thorough cultivation of the nur- sery, summer and winter, and keeping it entirely free from weeds. But the pains- taking nurseryman, will do this without special admonition. PRUNING. — When the trees have been in nursery one year, they should be pruned slightly. He careful not to carry the pruning to excess, and especially avoid making long willowy switches with a mere tuft of leaves a-top. Rather follow the plan of keeping the small tree sym- metrical and well proportioned, exactly as you would a large one. Dispense with th«i lower branches gradually, and the trunk will grow up stocky and strong enough to support itself without staking. When trees are budded at the end of the first year in nursery, little pruning is re- quired; simply enough on one side to make mom for the bud; and, after that starts, the entire top is cut away. ITS CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. CHAPTER III. B V D D I N G . The general theory of extending and perpetuating varieties of fruits by bud- ding is too well understood to require discussion here. While it may be said that the principle has found acceptance throughout the domain of horticulture, with the orange it has remained a mooted question longer than with any other fruit. But here also science is gradually and surely gaining the day. It has been urged against budding the orange that the operation induces precocity, thereby dwarfing the tree, curtailing its produc- tive capacity and shortening its life. That budding induces precocity there is no question. While a seedling tree can not be relied upon to come into* bearing until eight years old, a budded tree will bear at live (*. e., the stock being five, the budded growth three). Whether budding dwarfs the tree or not depends entirely upon the habit of the tree from which the bud •comes. I have seen full-sized standard trees from buds of the Konah, Wolf skill's Best and Cuban. The Washington Navel, -.. Michael, Mediterranean Sweet and Malta Blood make under-sized trees. But by reason of their lesser size a greater number may be set to the acre, and thus, in full bearing, the yield may equal that of standard trees. But the quality waived •entirely; — allowing a smaller yield from budded trees— the difference in quality must determine the matter in their favor. In the scales of value a box of uniform Navels will outweigh three boxes of hit- .and-miss seedlings. It must be remem- bered that there is no exact perpetuation of excellence by the seed. A seedling is a seedling, whether the seed be brought from Cuba, Australia or the Mediterranean country. The tree from foreign seed, being grown to maturity in our soil, gen- erally partakes of the characteristics of native stock;— producing a fruit with thick rind, and averaging with the rest in size and flavor. There is, in fact, no likelihood that any seedling will improve on these varieties already originated here, and which have been given the distinction of •A name, such as Wilson's and Wolfskin's , while there are mnuy chances for it to drop far below mediocrity. With bud- ded fruit the case is quite different. Uni- formity of excellence is obtained in it. The evil results of the precocity alluded to may be obviated by rigorously thinning the fruit as the tree comes into bearing. In our climate, the tendency of all trees is to overbear at first; and if this is not curbed, their health and productiveness may be seriously impaired. Budded or- ange trees do not stand alone in this mat- ter, though they may present an extreme case. The fact remains that, if a man buds his trees and devotes to them some extra attention, he may hasten his returns three years and enhance the value of his fruit. Budding is in line with all other advanced scientific methods. What labor- saving machinery is to manual labor, and thoroughbred live stock to native breeds, the budded orange tree is to the seedling. Do not be behind the times. Bud your trees. Having determined this matter to my satisfaction, at least, I come to the modus operandi of budding. I am in- debted to Mr. J. M. Warner, a budder of long experience, for many practical sug- gestions contained herein. TIME.— Bads are inserted in the fall- October and November — and in the spring and early summer — March to the last of June, the latter being much the more popular season. The exact time for bud- ding depends indirectly upon the weather and directly upon the condition of the stock to be budded. Buds inserted in the fall come under the designation of "dormant" as they do not start until the following spring. Then, of course, they begin early if at all, and therein lies the only advantage of fall budding. On the other hand, there is great danger that the buds may be killed by severe cold during the winter. Midsummer budding, al- though feasible, is condemned by the best authorities. The lateness of starting makes a short season's growth, and the wood being- prematurely hardened by cold weather, the tree is stunted. The earlier in the spring that budding can be done in conformity with right principles, the better. 36 THE ORANGE; CONDITION OF THE STOCK. — When the bark slips readily upon the stock, as it slipped on the willows in our whistle- making days, you may be sure it is in condition to be budded. Theoretically stated, the tree is then full of sap and in the active, growing condition requisite for infusing life into the extraneous bud in- serted in the bark. Experts may venture to anticipate this condition a little and bud trees when they are obliged to raise the bark with a knife, but they do it at the risk of losing their labor. A quick growth of the tree immmediately after each bud- ding is done will alone render the opera- tion successful. Experienced budders claim that a larger percentage of buds grow of 'those inserted in the new of the moon than in the old. AGE OF STOCKS.— Trees planted iu nur- sery in the spring are sometimes budded the following spring. But the majority of nurserymen do not bud their trees until the end of the second year in nur- sery. The stoeks then shoot the buds more uniformly and vigorously than at the Earlier age. Budding may be done from this time forward until the tree is fully grown, but the difficulty of starting increases with age. Ordinarily there is no reason for delaying the operation later than the end of the second year in nursery. IMPLEMENTS REQUIRED.— The outfit re- quired for budding comprises a pair of pruning shears of the ordinary pattern; a budding knife, a whetstone and strap, a brush and some tying twine. The budding knife has a prolongation of the handle, being a bone spatula, like the end of a paper cutter. This attach- ment is of service in lifting the bark with- out lacerating it after the incision has been made. The whetstone, used with either oil or water, should be line, and small enough to carry in the pocket. For puttingthe finishing edgeon the knife use a razor-strop or a strop improvised from a piece of leather fastened to a stick and oiled. The pruning shears or pocket- knife should be employed in the heavy work, such as cutting branches for buds, pruning, etc. The budding knife is then used only for cutting out the buds and in- cising the tree, and its keenness is not un- duly impaired. It is best to bud the trees close to the ground, for the reason tha-t the point of juncture of bud and stock be comes less prominent and unsightly, and,, in transplanting, may be coyered up en- tirely. Any sort of brush that is con- venient will serve for dusting off the body of the tree, so that the knife shall not come in contact with grit. The buds should be inserted with a view to a voiding accidents in irrigating and cul- tivating. If the rows run north and south insert the bud on the south side of the stock, so that it shall not grow out into the open space and thus be subject to ac- cident. The prevaling winds should also be considered. As the tendency of the sprout is to grow out from the stock, if the winds can be brought into service to force it back upon the stock and into an upright position, so much the better. TWINE.— A soft, loosely-twisted twine, from ten to fourteen ply, and known as "budding twine," is in universal use among budders. The size is varied, ac- cording to the size of stocks. A conven- ient way of preparing the twine for use i* to reel it upon a board the required length for the pieces, and then cut it at both ends of the board. Count the pieces, and when done with them you will know how many buds you have inserted. Sling the strings in a loop of twine to your person, and you have them ready to draw upon as required. CHOOSING BUDS.— The best buds to in- sert are those which appear large and plump, as though just ready to start. They are found upon the latest new growth that has rounded and hardened. The light green, new growth, known as " three cornered," should be avoided, the buds being immature and lacking in vital- ity. Likewise buds on old limbs (?'. e., of a former year's growth,) are not desirable, as they are slow to start. Buds cut from very old and hard wood have been known to lie dormant four years before starting to grow. Upon the section of limb which you select all of the buds may not be de- sirable, and you should use only the best, rejecting the others. If thorny varieties are used discard those with the largest thorns. PREPARING THE BUDS.— Having select- ed the limbs from which you wish to take your buds, cut them into lengths ofi six w ITS CULTURE IN OALIFOKN1A. tight inches, convenient for handling. At the same time cut oil* the leaves, severing the stem close to the buds. If the leaves are allowed to remain they draw the sap 'from the stock, weakening the buds. The points of thorns may be clipped to avoid annoyance in handling. If the buds are to be kept any time or shipped, the twigs should be packed in some damp material. The green moss which forms on the sur- face of ponds or reservoirs exposed to the sun furnishes an excellent wrapping when dried. This should be dampened only enough to keep the stems from drying out, and they maybe thus kept a fortnight or more without damage. While budding keep the principal part of your stock cov- ered with a damp cloth, having only a *tick or two in hand at a time. CUTTING THK BUDS.— Hold the stick in n he left hand, top toward your body ; fore- finger sustaining the stick below the bud, and thumb far enough above the bud to be out of danger from the knife. Com- mencing about a half inch below the bud, make a slanting cut into the twig, raising the bark and a thin shaving of wood be- neath it. Draw the knife forward with a straight cut underneath the bud, and when this has been severed, with the bark and wood adhering, bring the edge to the sur- face with a rounding -motion. The slip thus taken is about an. inch long: the part below the bud a half inch, the bud and leaf stem a quarter, and the part above the bud a quarter. It is neces- sary to take only a very little wood from the twig in serving the bud. I have known p^ns-taking nurserymen, when operating on young stock, to hollow out the under side of the bud longitudinally, so as to make it conform more closely to the body of the tree to which it was ap- plied. The knife used for taking off buds .should have a keen edge. CUTTING THE STOCKS AND INSERTING THE BUDS.— At a point not more than six .inches from the ground select a smooth place on the stock and make a short per- pendicular incision. This is called the longitudinal cut. The knife simply pene- trates the bark. The cut should not be longer than the bud (one inch), and if the bark is free it may be somewhat less, as the lower end of the bud-base can pass under the bark when shoved down, mak- ing it more secure and requiring less ty- ing. At the top end of the longitudinal cut make a transverse cut long enough to admit the bud. In making the transverse cut incline the edge of the knife down- ward, and then, as the bark is penetrated, spread the gash by twisting the knife up- ward and carrying the knife outward from the tree. In so doing be careful not to tear the bark. This completes the incis- ion. Next pass the lower prong of the bud-base in at the place where the two cuts cross, and, with the thumb of the right hand, press the bud down gently into the opening. Instead of using the thumb, which might in some instances bruise the bud, some budders insert the point of the budding knife in the bud- base, just above the bud, and press down with that. While the bud is being shoved into position the thumb and fore-finger of the left hand should be pressed against the bark on each side of the longitudinal cut to assist in guiding the bud and to prevent a rupture of the bark. When the top of the bud-base is even with the trans- verse cut it is in proper position. The base is then nearly or quite inclosed in the bark, and the bud with its leaf-stem and thorn (if it have a thorn) protrudes just below the point where the cuts cross. TYING.— One of the pieces of twine al- ready prepared is then passed about the tree, making usually three wraps above the bud and two below, the tying being done so that there is one wrap less on the side opposite the bud. The twine should be drawn so tight that it can not be easily slipped, and should pass close to the eye of the bud above and below. The bud first adheres at the upper extremity, and especial care should be taken to have it well wrapped there. INDICATIONS.— In between two and six weeks after the insertion of the buds, if they adhere to the stock, the leaf stem next the bud will begin to loosen and 38 THE ORANGE; drop oft'. Oil the contrary, if it shrivels and clings to the bud, the indication is that the bud is dead. CUTTING THE STOCKS.— As soon as one is satisfied that the buds have adhered he should cut off the stocks from four to eight inches aboye the bud, the larger the tree the higher up. An irrigation and cultiva- tion immediately after this will have a good effect in starting the bud. Within a month after cutting away the stocks, the strings should also be cut and removed, especially the wraps above the bud. REBUDDING.— Trees that fail to start the bud should be rebudded as soon as possi- ble. If the first work has been done early, there will be time to rebud the skips the (same season. SPROUTS.— The common practice is to remove all sprouts that put out from the stock in order that its whole vitality may be thrown into the bud. Some think the single growth of the bud is insufficient to keep the stock in a healthy condition, and for the first few months leave several sprouts, keeping them subordinate to the bud. If any sprouts be left they should be on the opposite side to the bud in order that they may not interfere with its up- ward growth. They should be occasion- ally nipped off; and, finally, when the main shoot gets fair proportions, the in- terlopers may be dispensed with alto- gether. PRUNING. — If the growing bud-sprout shows too great a tendency to branch, it is advisable to thumb-prune it somewhat or to shorten in the lower branches. The new growth should be trained to sturdy proportions and an upright growth. If staking be necessary, stake it, but make it grow upright without this if possible. CUTTING AWAY THK STUBS.— When the wood of the budded growth shall have hardened up somewhat, cut away the stub of the stock close to the point of juncture. Pare the stock smooth, and cover with paint, shellac, or wax, to pre- vent the wood from drying out and cracking. INFLUENCE; OK STOCK ON BUD.— While, in theory, the budding of a tree amounts to an absolute change in the fruit, substi- tuting the variety budded for that of the native stock, practice demonstrates that the stock still exercises an influence- through the budded growth. This influ- ence varies with different fruits, iu some being quite imperceptible, in others so pronounced as to render budding nuga- tory. For example, the lemon may be budded upon orange stock with the best results ; and, in fact, it has come to be a universal custom to choose orange stock for this purpose by reason of its greater hardiness. But with the orange budded upon lemon stock the case is different ; deterioration of fruit is sure to follow. At one time there was quite a furor for bud- ding choice varieties of orange upon the stock of Chinese lemon. The vigor of the stock caused a marvelous growth in the orange buds, and the experimenters were in high feather until their trees came into bearing. Then it was found that the fruit was large, coarse, pulpy and insipid, be- ing neither orange, lemon, nor a palatable hybrid. STANDARD LOWERED BY REPEATED BUDDING.— It is safe to assume, then, tbat all stocks exercise some influence on their budded fruit, and though in a single in- stance we might be unable to perceive it,, the probability is that several generations of buds, each taken from the last preced- •ing and each inserted in the same stock, would finally bring a fruit much modified and approaching in character that of the seedling operated upon. Thus it is that, the standard of certain varieties has been lowered by successive buddings. A, im- pressed by the excellence of the Mediter- ranean Sweet, obtained buds from the stock first introduced and inserted them, in some of his poorest trees. B obtained* buds from A, and inserted them in lemon stock. Then C got them from B and D- from C, and so the retrograde movement continued until the product of the last Mediterranean Sweet buds was found to be very inferior. Other varieties beside the Mediterranean Sweet have suffered in this way. The Australian Navel, which falls short of its twin sister, the Riverside Navel, is one of the victims. ORIGINAL BUDS.— It is advisable then , in budding to a choice variety, to go back to the original stock if possible ; otherwise to get buds only one degree removed from the original, and those grown on ITS CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. non-deteriorating trees. Too much faro cannot be exercised in this matter if our standards are to be maintained. GRAFTING.— The cheapness and greater convenience of budding the orange has rendered grafting obselete. A nursery- man of my acquaintance claims that he can bring the orange to fruit much earlier by grafting than by budding, and has ex- periments under way to prove his asser- tion. It is possible that the next step in scientific culture may be in this direction, but I deem it hardly probably. In Flor- ida grafting is a popular method of con- verting the wild (Bigarade) orange to the commercial fruit. Grafting would be of equal advantage with us in treating old trees, in which it is difficult to make bud--* live. (.'ARK OF THK l>i:j»DKD 8 JOCK. — The care of budded nursery .stook, as regards culti- vation, irrigation, staking up, pruning and keeping free from insects, should bo as painstaking as that enjoined for young seedlings. When the buds are one year old and the stocks two or three (according to the age at budding;, the trees are suffi- ciently advanced to be taken up and trans- ferred to the orchard. Of this transplant- ing I shall say something in a subsequent chapter. CHAPTER IV. A WORD TO THE WISE. The man who contemplates planting an orange orchard — especially the man of limited means— ought to stop and think twice. He should consider that it is a great undertaking to raise orange trees; and he should also bear in mind that, during the long period in which they are attaining maturity, his family and him- self must have a living. If, after weigh- ing the matter carefully, he comes to the conclusion that he is possessed of the req- uisite courage, perse verence, energy and thrift for the undertaking, with a natural taste for it which will make his labors and trials endurable; and if he thinks he can see his way clear to keep the pot boiling through several non- producing years, why, let him go ahead, and God speed him! He is embarking in a good enter- prise, and one that will, surely bring its reward if intelligently carried through. Too many men undertake the growing of an orange grove without fully compre- hending the magnitude of the task. When it is past the time for them to retire with- out sacrifice, they find out that it was a fancy, not a well - settled purpose, that first possessed them, and the labors in- volved are too onerous to be borne; or, their means having run out, they get into debt, mortgage the farm, and then, per- haps, as the trees are just about to bear, the result of all their labors and sacrifices is swept away! I do not propose to read anybody a lecture. Neither do I wish to discourage any who have reasonable chances of success from entering the field of orange growing; but, if a candid word of mine may set some over-sanguine man to thinking, and avert from him the heart- burnings incident to the course above out- lined, that word shall not pass unspoken. If, my reader, you have thoughts of growing an orange orchard, and after looking the 4 difficulties squarely in the face, you conclude that you can overcome them; and if you would, to that end, be advised concerning approved theories and established methods, follow me through the succeeding chapters and I will lay them before you. Remember that in our age no man can afford to ignore the ex- perience of others; and he who informs himself most thoroughly is the one who encounters least mishaps and fir ally com- mands success. 40 THE GRANGE; CHAPTER V. LOCATING AN GRANGE ORCHARD, Having determined to grow oranges, •one should address himself to the task of obtaining the best of everything re- quired;—the best location and soil; the 'best water right; the best trees of the best varieties; arid then he should plant them and care for them in the best manner, and he may count with certainty on the best results. If he is to go through the labor and trials of growing an orchard, he may as well raise fine fruit as poor; it is not a whit harder. And besides, when it comes to returns there may be all the difference between the two that there is between profit and loss. BEST LOCATION.— In Part I of this work, under the heading "A Glance at Our Or- ange Growing Country" and subsequent chapters, I have discussed the question of localities suited to citrus culture quite fully, with reference especially to this connection. It is sufficient to reiterate here that all authorities agree in recom- mending the high mesa lands and the in- terior valleys, where conditions of soil, climate and water supply are suitable. SOIL.— The soil should be loose, well drained and warm;— n* standing water within twenty feet of the surface— and if there be a hard-pan at all, it should be deep. The orange flourishes best in a sandy or gravelly loam. Quite a variety of soils exists, all of which seem to fill the requirements of the oransje in nearly «qual degree. I note the following: Disintegrated granite with vegetable de- posit. Gravely alluvium. . fifteen to twenty feet; standard trees — seedlings and native buds — twenty to thir- ty feet. The distances most in vogue are Dwarfs — ten feet, Semi-dwarfs— eighteen feet, Standards — twenty-four feet. CHAPTER IX. ARRANGING AN ORCHARD-THE SQUARE SYSTEM. THRKK SYSTEMS.— There are three pop- alar systems for the arrangement of trees in an orchard : 1st: The square system. 2d: The quincunx system. .'Jd: The septuple system. It is with the first named that this chap- ter deals. THE SQUARE SYSTEM.— This is the ar- rangement of trees in a quadrangular form; i. e., so that four trees in two prox- imate rows form a figure of a quadrangle, thus: FIG. 3. The general online of the orchard also becomes a quadrangle if the rows are of equal length and number throughout. The system thus carried out is illustrated in Fig 4. How TO STAKE BY THIS SYSTEM.— The boundary lines of the orchard ground be- ing already established, determine how much margin you will leave between the- outside rows of trees and the boundary lines. It is generally inexpedient to plant, trees directly upon the outer lines, as that would bring the orchard flush with a road or fence or hedge, or with some neigh- bor's property. The margin usually aK lowed is from ten to twenty feet, accord- ing to the character of the trees and the confidence one has in the public. A_ c d * FIG. 4— THE SQUARE SYSTEM. FIG. 5 — CHECK-ROWS. A B D C, boundary lines, afe, erf, check-rows. Let us take, for illustration, a margin of twelve feet. Stake the points «, ft, c and :; 311 x IB !!!!""" """!!!1\V"".T.'........ 272 x 12 302 x 14 259 x 16.. x 18.. x 14.. x 16.. x 18.. x 20.. x 16.. x 18.. x 20.. x -'2.. x 20!! x 22.. x 24.. x 20.. x 22.. x 24.. x 21.. x 22.. x 24.. x 24.. x 25.. x 26.. x 28.. x 30.. 227 202 222 199 173 156 170 151 130 124 110 101 109 99 91 99 90 82 76 70 64 56 NOTE. — In these computations the frac- tion is dropped when amounting to one-' half or less; when exceeding one-half one is taken. ITS CULTUEE IN CALIFOKNIA. CHAPTER X. THE QUINCUNX SYSTEM. ; ' '^ NX DEFINED.— -Webster defines 'the word quincunx as follows : "An ar- rangement or disposition of things by 'Jives in a square, one being placed in the middle of the square ; especially an ar- rangement as of trees, in squares, consist- ing of five trees, one at each corner, and a fifth in the middle, this order being re- peated indefinitely so as to form a regular i^roup, with rows, or ranks, running in various directions." ILLUSTRATION. — The quincunx figure is thus illustrated : I ••!«!. 7— QUINCUNX. Extended in a regular group it becomes the following: FIG. 8— QUINCUNX GROUP. How QUINCUNX PLANTING is AVAIL- ABLE.—This system of planting is resort- ed to mainly under the following condi- tions: 1st. By those who have orchards al- ready planted on the square system, and who wish to increase the number of trees without enlarging the area. 2d. By those who wish to plant both oitrus and deciduous trees in the same orchard with a view, generally, of cutting away the deciduous trees when the citrus ':ome into bearing. With Quincunx plant- ing they can at pleasure dispense with the middle tree in each group of five, and leavo the remaining orchard in regular ;<1. Quincunx is also employed in the planting of seedling and budded orange trees in the same orchard, the four corners of the square being occupied by standard trees and the middle points by budded varieties, which make a lesser growth. How TO STAKE ON THE QUINCUNX SYS- TEM.—Stake the two check rows the same as for square planting except that, you double the number of stakes. For ex- ample, if the trees in the square are to be twenty-four feet apart, with an extra quin- cunx tree in the middle, place the stakes in the check rows twelve feet apart. ARRANGING THE PLANTING CHAIN.— To the planting chain attach an extra tag, as X, Fig. 9, one-half the established dis- tance from the tag A. ~ x A B c D U o o o o " 6 FIG. 9 — THE PLANTING CHAIN- ARRANGED. EXPLANATION.— Assuming that the es- tablished distance between trees is twenty- four feet, then from X to A is 12 feet ; A to B 24 feet, etc. THE PROCESS OF STAKING.— Stretch the chain for the first row, allowing the tag A (Fig. 9) to fall upon the pin a, Fig. 10. a b FIG. 10— THE CHECK ROWS— QUINCUNX. For the second row, let the tag X fall upon the pin n. Proceed with the staking as usual, placing a pin at each tag in the chain. The result of changing the check tags A and X is to bring the trees alternate- ly opposite each other, thus : KI(T. 11— ALTERNATELY OPPOSITE. 48 THE ORANGE, It is necessary to tally with the tag A in each odd row, and with the tag X in each even row, thus A, X, A, X ; shifting the chain back and forth like a shuttlecock. This will bring the orchard in regular quincunx order, as shown in Fig. 8. PULL UP UNNECESSARY STAKES.— The staker should be careful to pull up all the intermediate stakes in the check rows, as n, o, p, q, r, s, etc., Fig. 10, since they are merely check stakes and do not denote places for trees like the stakes a, b, c, etc. The stakes marked o, Fig. 12, are the ones to come out ; their work is done as soon as the chain is stretched. FIG. 12—0, O, O, O, SHOWING STAKES TO BK PULLED. DISTANCE APART.— In planting quin- cunx, it is advisable to have the trees in regular squares not less than twenty -four feet apart ; and they may sometimes be placed thirty feet apart with advantage. At twenty-four feet apart the distance from the trees on the square to the middle tree is about seventeen feet. On a scale of thirty feet, this intermediate distance be- comes about twenty feet. NUMBER OF TRRES TO THE ACRE.— To ascertain the number of trees to the acre by the Quincunx system, observe the fol- lowing: RULE. — 1st. Compute the number of tree* in the regular squares, as shown in Chaptn X. •-M. Multiply this result byvtwo. 3d. From the product subtract the num- ber of intermediate (Quincunx) trees on two nides of the orchard, plus 1. EXAMPLE.— How many trees on an acre of ground planted Quincunx, the trees on regular squares being twenty-four feet apart? The table, Chapter X, shows that at twenty-four feet apart, Square system, there are 76 trees to the acre. 76 X 2 = 152. 152 — *( 8 -f 8 -f- 1 ) = 135. Ans. , 135 trees. ANOTHER RULE. — An approximate rule for finding the number of trees to an acre, quincunx, is to ascertain the number of trees on the regular squares, and add 7* per cent, thereto. *NOTR. — It is assumed that the acre of ground taken for illustration is in a square form, and that there are eight intermediate or Quincunx tree* along each side. The (8 -|- 8 -|- 1) represents the inside trees along two sides, plus one, as given in, tie rule. CHAPTER XI; THE SEPTUPLE SYSTEM. A MISNOMER CORRECTED.— The system of planting which I designate Septuple has hitherto been known as Quincunx, the term being applied almost indiscrimi- nately to this system and the one de- scribed in the preceding chapter. Great confusion has resulted from this misappli- cation and conflict of terms, some writers even going to the length of calling the Septuple " the true Quincunx," and re- pudiating the other, or genuine Quincunx system, altogether. This is error carried to the point of fanaticism, and offers no reasonable way out of the dilemma. Clearly there are two distinct systems of planting here confounded, and they ought to be designated by different names. It is manifest by the definition quoted in the preceding chapter that there is an old- established and well-defined system of planting known as Quincunx ; that it is by lives — four trees on a square and one in the middle— as shown in the illustration. To this system, then, the title properly bo- longs. If some other system is devised which comprehends the planting of tree* in an essentially different group — say by sevens instead of fives — it is clearly a mis- nomer to call that system Quincunx also. At the risk, then, of stirring up a hornet's ITS CULTUBE IN CALIFOBNIA. 49 nest among horticultural writers, I ven- ture to correct the error that has been tolerated so long. WHY SEPTUPLE.— This system I call the Septuple because it is made up of regular groups of seven. The geometrical figure formed by this group is that of a hexagon, with a tree at each angle and a tree in the middle, thus: FIG. 13— THE SEPTUPLE GROUP. NOTE— It is possible to resolve the trees planted by this system into groups of five, but they do not form a regular equilateral figure. Thus, in Fig. 0, it is seen at a glance that the figure formed is not a square, hence cannot come within Webster's definition of quincunx. FIG. 0 — SHOWING MISAPPLICATION OF TERM QUINCE NX The complete orchard is resolvable into a succession of these groups, matched to- gether like the blocks in a hexagon quilt. FIG. 14 — SEPTUPLE GROUPS. No PRACTICAL BEARING.— Of course, the fact that trees planted on this system, or on any other, are resolvable into groups cuts no figure in the practical work of planting or cultivating the orchard. Nei- ther will one readily discover this geo- metrical peculiarity on inspecting the trees themselves. On the contrary, be- tween the Quincunx and Septuple planted orchards, scarcely any difference is ob- servable on casual inspection. THE DIFFERENCE.— But there is a dif- ference, and an essential one in the econo- my of planting. Taking the figure of the quincunx, for example, we see that the trees stand at irregular distances apart. A B C D FIG. 15— IRREGULAR DISTANCES APART. Thus, the established square distance being twenty-four feet, A and B are twenty-four feet apart; likewise B and D D and C, and C and A. But the distance from each one of these trees to e is seven- teen feet (approximately). Hence it hap- pens that, while the rows up and down the orchard and transversely may be too open (24 feet), the diagonal rows (from A to D and B to C) may be too close (17 feet). With the septuple system, this difficulty is entirely obviated, as each tree is equi- distant from all proximate trees. A B G C E FIG. 16— TREES EQUIDISTANT. Thus, from A to B and B to C and thence around the hexagon, the spaces are the same, and these spaces also equal the lines A G, B G, C G, D G, etc. THE ADVANTAGE.— Herein lies the great advantage of Septuple planting, making it, in my opinion, the finest system ever devised. Upon a given space, allowing the same distances between trees, fifteen per cent more trees may be planted Septu- ple than by the Square system. This seems at first glance impossible, but it is never- theless a fact. A gain of fifteen per cent in the productive capacity of land is not to be ignored. Many merchants handle goods on a margin of fifteen per cent, and many farmers may find that fifteen per cent turns the scale in their profit and loss account. There are other practical advantages in the Septuple system. As the trees come in equally spaced rows, in four different ways, they may be cultivated with advantage in as many directions, making each cultivation criss-cross sever- al others. In irrigating, water may some- times be run down the diagonal rows with great advantage. Especially is this true where the orchard is located on sloping land and the fall is too great to allow the running of water down the straight rows. 50 THE OKANGE, NOT DIFFICULT.— The novice should not allow himself to be dazed by the multi- plicity of geometrical figures which I have given in explaining the nomenclature of the system. It does not require a surveyor to stake off the orchard ground in Septu- ple form. On the ^contrary, when you once grasp the theory you will find it as easy as any other system. SEPTUPLE ILLUSTRATED.— To give an oc- cular demonstration of an orchard planted by this system, I present a diagram after the manner of those in preceding chap- ters: Giyen an equilateral triangle, A B C, to find its altitude. C FIG. 17— SEPTUPLE ORCHARD ILLUSTRATED. METHOD OF STAKING.— The staking is done in substantially the same way as de- scribed in the Quincunx planting. Run two check- rows of stakes along opposite sides of the orchard, and, in using the chain, alternate the check-tags as previ- ously described. By shifting the chain back and forth the trees are brought alter- nately opposite (Fig. 11). KEY TO THE SEPTUPLE SYSTEM.— It is in setting the stakes in the check -rows that the difference between this and all other systems occurs. This must be explained at length. In Fig. 18 it is plainly observ- able that the trees in opposite rows ar- range themselves in triangles. *F1G. 18— TRIANGULAR ARRANGEMENT. It has been explained that the trees are equal distances apart each way, and hence A B C is an equilateral triangle. Now, we have the simple geometrical problem: — FIG. 19— AN EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE TO FIND ITS ALTITUDE. Drop a perpendicular from the apex C upon the base A B. Then A D C is a rightangle triangle. The dimension of the side A C is known. The dimension of A D is one-half of A B. We wish to ascertain the dimension C D. The formu- la is: V (A C2— A D2)=CD If the trees are planted twenty feet apart, we have the problem in figures thus: V (202 _ 1Q2) =3. SOLUTION. 202—400. 102=100. 400—100 = 300. v/~300=17^ (nearly), or 17 feet 4 inches. ANSWER.— If A C is twenty feet and A D ten feet, then the distance from C to D is seventeen feet and four inches. The orchard being staked on the Septu- ple system, with the trees twenty feet apart, the stakes in the check-rows should be seventeen feet and four inches apart. Having staked the check-rows the re- quired distance, proceed to stretch the chain and set the stakes exactly as de- scribed in Quincunx planting. Remem- ber the injunction there given to pull out alternate stakes in the check-rows when you are through with them. (See Fig. 12.) DISTANCE FOR CHECK-ROWS. — For con- venience of reference, I append a table, showing the distances at which the check- stakes should be set for various spaces: 10 feet apart _ 8 feet 8 inches. 12 14 16 18 20 21 22 24 10 42-5 12 % 13 10>£ 15 7 17 4 18 21A 19 % .. 20 VA ITS CULTUKE IN CALIFOENIA. 51 NUMBER OF TREES TO THE ACRE.— To ascertain the number of trees to the acre, Septuple planting. RULE. — Calculate the number set the same distance apart on the Square system, and add fifteen per cent. NUMBER OF TREES TO THE ACRE. Square. Septuple. 10 feet apart 435 500 12 " 302 347 14 " 222 255 16 feet apart 170 195 18 " 134 154 20 " 109 125 21 " 99 114 22 " 90 103 24 " 75 86 *NOTE— This system, with equal propriety, might be termed the Triangular system . I have preferred , however, to denominate it the Septuple, following the analogy of the Quincunx — a group about a cen- tral tree. CHAPTER XII, TAKING TREES FROM NURSERY. TIME.— In determining the time for transplanting orange trees we should con- sider, first, the condition of the trees: second, the season. The orange tree has several periods of growth during the year. It would be im- possible to define exactly these growing seasons, or even to state their number, so much do they vary in different trees and under different conditions of health and vigor, irrigation, cultivation, etc.; but there are certain times when nearly all orange trees are dormant, and other times when nearly all are growing. THE DORMANT STAGE.— In transplant- ing orange trees it is best to take them in their dormant stage, as they do not then feel the shock of removal as much as when they are active. Approaching a general rule as nearly as possible I may give the dormant periods as follows: Middle of March to the middle of April. The month of June. The month of September. Middle of November to the middle of December. THE VARIOUS SEASONS.— Many people transplant trees in March-April season with excellent results. The danger to be provided against at that time is in the cold weather which is likely to prevail. If the roots suffer a chill the tree is irretrievably stunted if not killed outright. June is the most popular time for planting, and, all things considered, the best, as neither excessive cool nor hot weather is en- countered, and the season of strongest growth following, exercises a powerful in fiuence in starting the tree upon its new life. I have known trees planted in Sep- tember to thrive finely, though few peo- ple plant at that time. November and De- cember planting is not in vogue at all. TRIMMING TREES BEFORE TRANSPLANT- ING.— It is a good plan to prune nursery stock quite heavily a week or ten days before transplanting. This gives the trees a chance to recover from one shock before encountering the second. The shock of pruning has a tendency also to throw the tree into a more complete dormant condi- tion, when it suffers least from the lacera- tion of the roots. It is a universal rule in horticulture that in transplanting a tree, the top should be cut away in proportion to the loss of roots. With orange trees this is almost a sine qua non. If the trees are not pruned before removal they should be pruned directly afterwards, and the knife should be used vigorously. I know an experienced grow- er who follows the rule of depriving his lemon trees of every leaf at the time of transplanting. He claims that they start more readily for this heroic treatment, and I am not prepared to dispute his hy- pothesis. THREE METHODS OF TRANSPLANTING.— There are three common methods of trans- planting citrus trees: 1st. Balling or sacking the roots. 2d. Puddling the roots. 3d. Packing the roots in damp straw. 52 THE OKANGE, BALLING.— This is undoubtedly the best method, though the most laborious and expensive. Trees that are carefully balled and well planted seldom lose their leaves, and, with the next succeeding period of growth, are almost sure to make a start. The operation of balling is thus per- formed : A trench fourteen to sixteen inches deep is dug along one side of the nursery row cutting the earth about six inches from the stalks. Then the digger takes a sharp- edged spade, and by carefully working under from the bottom of the trench ex- poses the tap root. This he severs by a well directed blow or two. Next, vertical cuts are made in the soil on each side of the tree transversely with the trench, and a block of earth about a foot each way is formed. This block is carefully shaved off and rounded. Lastly, the spade is in- serted in the side opposite the trench, and the ball is loosened from the contiguous ground. A little more shaving makes it symmetrical all round. The ball thus formed should be grasped with both hands, and the tree lifted from its place and set upon the half of a grain bag already provided and spread upon the ground close by. It generally happens that the end of the tap root projects an inch or two below the ball of earth. Ac- cordingly a little slit is made in the middle of the grain bag, through which the end of root protrudes. The edges of the bag are then drawn up tightly about the ball, and fastened by winding with bailing rope or stitched with stout twine. If the ball is tied, the rope is first wound about it vertically with a hitch around the stock at the top and another about the tap root at the bottom to hold the wrap in place. Two vertical wraps are made, crossing each other at right angles, top and bottom, and a third turn is made about the ball hori- zontally, describing an equator about the two former meridians. The whole being made snug and tight so that the enclosed earth cannot shake loose from the roots, the balling is complete. Balled trees should be handled very carefully, and not transported long distances in a lumber wagon if a spring wagon is to be had for the purpose. BROKEN BALLS. — If by any mischance the dirt is crumbled within the sack the wrappings should be removed entirely upon planting the tree. CONDITION OF THE SOIL FOR BALLING.— From the description given of the process of balling, it must be evident to the rea- der that the soil should have a good degree of coherence to allow so much handling. A clayish sandy soil is best for balling. But the most favorable soil even, must be taken at just the proper time to make the operation successful. About the third or fourth day after a rain or an irrigation is a safe time to begin sacking. WHEN SACKING is NOT DESIRABLE. — It is not best to sack trees if they are taken from a stiff clay soil, or any soil, in fact, that is likely to bake hard. If the balls of earth become thus set they enclose the roots like a mold of plaster of Paris, and the tree cannot thrive. PUDDLING.— In this method of trans- planting, the trench is first excavated and the tap roots cut as previously de- scribed. No effort is made, however, to preserve the earth intact about the roots. The tree being loosened, it is left standing in the trench with a shovelf ull of dirt upon the roots to keep them from drying. A puddle is formed at some convenient point by mixing loam and clay to the consist- ancy of thick cream. A sufficient number of trees having been dug, they are gath- ered up, a few at a time, and the roots of each immersed in the puddle. They are thus encased with a film of soil which protects them from the drying action of the air. As an additional precaution, the roots are parked in damp straw for transit. For shipment long distances, a number of trees may be bunched together and their roots packed with damp straw in a barrel. The stocks and tops are generally wrapped with burlap, rushes or other material as a means of protection. The only objection I have ever heard urged against puddling trees is that the film of earth is sometimes set so firmly upon the small roots that it chokes them, after the manner of the baked or hardened ball already alluded to. PACKING IN DAMP STRAW.— With this method the tree is prepared in the same manner as just described, except that the puddling operation is omitted. I have ITS CULTUKE IN CALIFOKNIA. 53 transplanted trees by this method as well as by puddling and balling, and I find that the damp straw alone answers every re- quirement. The principal precaution to be observed in transplanting orange trees is to avoid the contact of air with the roots. If the roots be thoroughly dried, the vitality of the tree is lost. CHAPTER XIII. PLANTING AN ORCHARD. DIGGING THE HOLES.— The stakes for the orchard having been set as described in a preceding chapter, the next operation is digging the holes. SIZE OF HOLES.— If the ground has been properly prepared, there is no necessity for digging the hole larger than requi- site for admitting the roots of the tree. If the trees are balled, a hole large enough to receive the ball is sufficient; if not balled, make it large enough to admit the roots in a natural position, i. e. without doubling on themselves. For the aver- age three or four-year-old stock a hole eighteen to twenty inches across and the same depth is ample. THE PLANTING BOARD.— A device in almost universal use for fixing the point where the tree should stand is known as the planting board. thrown in as far as they will go and the gopher is left to his fate. Sometimes, hower, he resists temptation to the ex- tent of filling the hole and throwing the ITS CULTUBE IN CALIFORNIA. 65 raisins up with the dirt. Then it is nec- essary to dig and try it again. If he re- fuses the raisin bait entirely, try him with a wedge of poisoned watermelon, or a piece of carrot or turnip or sweet potato. Never give up until you are sure that the gopher is dead. If allowed to remain he will surely do some mischief and, what is worse, he will soon have a family to join him in his marauding. After pois- oning a hole, you will generally find it filled up, but if there are no after evi- dences of work in that vicinity you may conclude that the poison has been effec- tive. As previously remarked, strych- nine is the best destroyer. Pulverize the crystals snd insert only a little of the pow- der in the bait. Arsenic will not serve at all; the gopher fattens on it. TRAPS. — Several patterns of gopher traps are in use, the best of which are skeleton claws, which are inserted in the hole and close with a spring upon the gopher when he pushes the trigger. In setting them it is best to dig down to the main runaway and place the trap as nearly on a level as possible. Then cover the hole with some- thing to exclude the light. The most suc- cessful trap I have eyer found is called the Gushing, and is constructed of wire, with a sheet-iron trigger. It has ua very taking way " with the gophers. SQUIRRELS. — Another burrowing pest is the ground squirrel. He has his nest be- low ground and a hole for entrance and exit much larger than the gopher hole, which he always leaves open. He does not attack the roots of a tree unless they happen to be in his way while tunneling. The damage which he does the orange tree is in gnawing the bark of the trunk. EXTERMINATORS.— Squirrels are exter- minated by poison and by fumigations with apparatus gotten up for the purpose of driving bi-sulphide or carbon gas or brimstone smoke into their holes. Wrap- ping or whitewashing the trees, as sug- gested in the chapter on planting, is a good means of protection against squir- rels. These pests are by no means so uni- versal as gophers and are more easily dis- posed of. RABBITS.— Both the Jack and the "Cot- ton Tail" rabbit are destructive enemies to the orange tree, gnawing the bark as high as they can reach. Wrapping or whitewashing the trunk is a protection against them. Some people suspend bits of bright tin in their trees, the glint of which in either sunlight or moonlight, frightens the depredators away. Another method is to smear the trunks with dilut- ed blood. The rabbit has a fine sense of smell, and this offense to his olfactories keeps him awray. Kabbits are disposed of with the shot gun with double advantage, if one has time to hunt them. Otherwise poison may be used or the services of a good dog or cat invoked. When one starts an orchard in a comparatively new and wild region, all measures of protection seem ineffectual except a rabbit-tight fence. GRASSHOPPERS.— In newly settled local- ities grasshoppers are apt to prove trou- blesome for a number of years, or until all the contiguous lands are brought under cultivation. Plowing the ground seems to kill their eggs and put an end to the nuisance. When grasshoppers preyail to- a considerable extent they destroy young orange trees by denuding them of leaves and even stripping the bark from the ten- der shoots. The best protection to small trees is to wrap the stocks with paper or cloth and enclose the top in a grain bag or other covering. Chickens are of great service in making war upon grasshoppers^ I have colonized my flocks in the orange orchard with the most satisfactory results. to the chickens and the trees. SCALE INSECTS.— The most formidable enemies, after all, are the scale insects; probably because they are the most in- significant. They belong to a low order of animal life known as coccidae. I shall not here attempt a techinal description of the scale insects, but will rather refer the reader to the scientific discussion of the subject taken fron the work of Hon. Matthew Cooke and appearing as an ap- pendix to this work. I cannot too highly commend the efforts of Mr. Cooke in be- half of the fruit growers of our State. They owe him a debt of gratitude which must needs be paid in installments by successive generations. For the fullest information relative to insects injurious to all tree and plant life I lake pleasure in 66 THE OEANGE; referring my readers to Mr. Cooke's work.* THE BLACK SCALE.— This is the most common, and is considered the least dan- gerous of the scale family. It may exist in a tree a long time without destroying it, but we may be sure the effect is constant- ly deleterious. The scale appears in all tints from a whity yellow of the newly- hatched to a brown of middle age and black in maturity, and in form is a little blister adhering to leaf, stem or stock. It does not attach itself to the fruit. Trees thus infested should be thoroughly pruned and washed with a solution of whale-oil soap as directed in the appendix. FUNGUS, OR SMUT.— This is an attend- ant of the black scale. Scientific investi- gation has shown that the scale excretes a gummy substance called honey-dew, which, in falling, attaches to the upper surfaces of leaves, twigs and fruit. This gum holds the dust that chances to fall upon the surfaces covered by it, and the mass generates a fungus growth termed back smut. This smut, although seeming to do no damage to the tree other than to render it unsightly, must retard its growth by obstructing the stomata or air-breath- ing surfaces of leaves and branches. It also renders the fruit unsalable, or nearly so. Neither scale nor smut should be tol- erated in an orchard. The whale-oil soap solution extirpates both. THE RED SCALE.— This is similar to the black scale, except that it is somewhat smaller and of a reddish color. It adheres only to the under side of leaves and to the fruit, and avoids the limbs and trunk. The red scale is more dangerous than the black and, if unmolested, will utterly de- stroy an orchard in a few years. For treatment see Appendix. THE WHITE on COTTONY CUSHION SCALE. — This approaches more nearly to a distinct animal than either of the other scales and is the most dangerous of the three. For full description and manner of treatment see Appendix. GUM DISEASE.— Lemon trees especially and orange trees occasionally, are subject to gum disease, an affection of the bark close to the ground. This is caused by in- judiciuos irrigation. The bark splits and a gum exudes. If unchecked, the disease encircles the tree and kills it. The best treatment upon discovering the first symp- toms of gum disease is to cut away the affected part and daub the wound with paint, wax or tar. In irrigating thereafter do not allow the water to touch the body of the tree and be sure that the soil is well stirred after each irrigation. "Die Back" and many of the other mal- adies to which the orange trees of Florida and some other lands are subject are wholly unknown in this country. *NOTE.— Injurious Insects of the Orchard, Vine- yard, etc., by Matthew Cooke, late Chief Executive Horticultural Officer of California. Sacramento: H. 8. Crocker & Co. CHAPTER XIX. WASHING TREES. THE YOUNO ORCHARD. — When the WASHING SOVEREIGN AND IMPERATIVE. young trees are planted in orchard it is a —For older tw'- - good plan to give th«™ ° *u~ ..r..wu.w* giving the trees a washing once or twice a year thereafter it will greatly promote their vigor and in- sure them against attack by the scale in" sect. With these pests of the orange treo the ounce of prevention is a hundred times the easiest and best. .„ ~~ .. -i-uy, productive and long lived, must be washed. THE SOLUTION in common use for this purpose is made of whale-oil or some oth- er cheap and strong soap. For my use I have found the addition of a little con- centrated lye most efficacious. The strength of the solution needs to be varied ITS CULTUKE IN CALIFORNIA. 67 to suit requirements. The strongest is needed in treating obstinate cases of scale. For simply washing trees to cleanse them, and as a measure of prevention I recom- mend the following : A SIMPLE WASH.— Heat the water al- most to the boiling point and dissolve in it sufficient concentrated lye to make it slippery between the ringers. Then add whale-oil soap, a quarter pound to the gallon. The solution may be applied to the trees hot without danger of injuring them. STRONGER SOLUTIONS. — For stronger washes, and those of various kinds, such as tobacco mixture, coal oil emulsion, etc., see the recipes of Matthew Cooke in the Appendix to this work. METHOD OF APPLICATION.— A broom or a scrubbing brush is serviceable for wash- ing the stock and main limbs of the tree. In treating the tops, the solution may be "switched" in with a broom or brush or sprayed with a hand sprinkler. The switching process is available only with small trees when the tops are well thinned out. For those of larger growth a hand sprinkler, such as shown in the accom- panying illustration, is used: In treating an orchard of full grown seedlings, these apparatus are in turn, in- adequate, and to avoid tediousness, resort must be had to a force pump like that shown in Fig. 2. FIG. 1— THE SPRAYER. FIG. 2 — THE FORCE PUMP. THE SPRAYER.— Fig. 1 illustrates a hand sprayer with the nozzle attached to the piston: The bucket containing the solu- tion is placed on the ground and the ap- paratus worked with both hands. This will throw a rose-spray to the heighth of twelve or fifteen feet, or a solid stream twenty feet. The pump shown in Fig 2 is known as the Excelsior No. 1. It is generally mounted on a barrel containing the solu- tion, and the whole apparatus is hauled about the orchard in a wagon. The ad- vantage of this pump is that, being dou- ble acting, it throws a continuous stream. Double hose may be attached, thus giving two streams simultaneously. The wash is applied through a three-quarter inch hose twelve or fifteen feet long with a noz- zle of ordinary iron pipe eight or ten feet long, which can be pushed well into the top of the tree by the operator. The spray is formed by closing the end of the pipe excepting only a thin slit. Four men make up the spraying party: — one to drive the team, one to work the pump and two to hold the nozzles. With this force at work an orchard is soon gone over. CHAPTER XX. WORKING, WATCHING AND WAITING. : But the waiting time, my brothers, is the hardest time of all." A YEAR OR Two LOST.— As stated in a preceding chapter, the orange tree loses a year's growth in trans-planting. Under the most favorable circumstances it is not THE ORANGE; until the second year in orchard that the tree regains its normal vigor. If in the meantime any special causes have inter- vened to set it back, such as the loss or partial loss of its leaves by grasshoppers, or the gnawing of its roots or stock by vermin, or injury by frost— any or all of which are liable to occur — the tree may not get a good start before the beginning of the third year after planting. If it do not show itself in a thrifty growing con- dition by that time, better dig it up and throw it away. I would not wait that long with a tree that gave earlier evidences of being stunted. WHEN BUDDED TREES YIELD.— But if good budded trees are planted and thrive well from the start, the third year in or- chard they ought to yield a little fruit, by way of sample. The fourth year they will produce more, but not enough to bring much revenue. At the end of the fifth year there should be quite a fine crop. If the trees have been retarded in any way the fruiting may be a year later. Accordingly, the man who plants an or- chard of budded oranges, must expect to wait from five to six years for his first substantial proceeds. WHEN SEEDLINGS YIELD. — With seed- ling trees one must wait nine or ten years. A LONG WAIT. — Five years is a long time; ten years a great deal longer. If a man is possessed of a plethoric purse he can abide the issue, with equanimity; but for one who is dependant for a living up- on his own energies this hiatus is a most serious matter. It is a matter which one should weigh well and provide against before embarking in the enterprise. Not only must the family have a living, but there is a continual demand for the ex- penditure of money or its equivalent- energy— in caring for the orchard. TIDING OVER.— Many and divers ways are resorted to by men of limited re- sources to tide over this period of waiting. The mechanic finds work at his trade for a part of each year; the teacher returns to teaching, and the professional man to his practice. If the previous vacation was that of a farmer the orchardist can gener- ally find work to do near at home in car- ing for the places of others or in general farm labor. Some may be able to pay their way as they go from their own places. Such are to be envied most of all. It often happens, however, that the fruit farm par excellence is not well adapted to raising general produce. This is the case with many of the mesa locations. HELPS.— But with all farms established on a right basis there are helps to the liv- ing which prove most valuable at this pe- riod. The cow is one of these adjuncts ; chickens another ; the vegetable garden a third. If a man is provident he can have his patch of alfalfa and his fodder growing in odd strips and corners of the place, thereby providing, without any outlay of cash, enough feed for his cow and some to help along with the support of the other animals. Chickens, as an auxiliary, under the charge of the gentle and painstaking housewife, are not to be despised ; but I warn the novice against placing too much dependence on the chicken business as a principal means of livelihood. Heretofore some people, prin- cipally dealers in fancy stock, have in- dulged in a good deal of hyperbole re- garding the profits of the poultry yard, and some other people have believed them and have been badly disappointed. ECONOMY WINS.— The thrifty man, aid- ed by his helpmeet, can devise many ways to cut down expenses and produce a little revenue pending the issue of the main horticultural venture; and those who address themselves earnestly to the task, and keep clear of debt, generally work through and find themselves on the com- fortable side of independence in a few years. DIVERSIFIED PLANTING.— Most people who improve small places diversify their planting, i. e. set a portion of the farm in deciduous fruits and a portion in grape- vines ; and some devote considerable space to small fruits. These come into bearing at two to four years and shorten the un- productive period correspondingly. ADVISABLE CROPS.— In this connection it would be proper to discuss the prodmcts that may be grown in the spaces between the rows of young fruit trees, for the man who struggles to make ends meet almost invariably feels the necessity of utilizing this ground. Corn and sugar cane for domestic use or for fodder, potatoes, beets, ITS CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 69 turnips — any of the leguminous crops — may be grown without detriment to the trees. But I would advise the planting of not more than two rows in the space be- tween rows of trees. These crops should not come nearer than six or eight feet from the trees. Nursery stock and small fruits may be planted in the orchard if the same rule of not overcrowding is observed. CROPS NOT ADVISABLE. — All grain crops —any crops, in fact, that preclude cultiva- tion— should be avoided as they involve great injury or total destruction of the trees. Watermelons and pumpkins are undesirable since they cover much of the ground to the exclusion of the cultivator, and their roots ramify to great distances, frequently drawing moisture directly from the roots of the trees. CITRUS AND DECIDUOUS TREES. — Some people adopt the plan of planting decidu- ous trees of early bearing habits— like the peach— in alternate rows between their orange trees. To this end the orchard is often planted close together with the in- tention of ultimately cutting away the deciduous trees when the oranges come into bearing. My experience with this method has not led me to favor it. In the first place consulting appearances, I do not like the intermixture of the two kinds of trees — citrus and deciduous. Secondly, trees of different habits need to be treated differently in irrigation, and it is generally an awkward matter to irrigate part of the trees in an orchard without watering all. Thirdly, peach and some other deciduous trees come into bearing before the or- anges, it is true, but the fact also remains that they are still vigorous trees when the oranges begin to produce. In Southern California the peach tree has been known to live fifty years. The oranges will need all of the space in the orchard when the deciduous trees are still in their very prime. It is hard for one to sacrifice the result of years of toil, and hence too often the deciduous trees are left and the or- anges suffer— all of the trees surfer from crowding. AN ORANGE GROVE PURE AND SIMPLE. —If the orange grower is master of the situation, so that he does not need to raise anything in his orchard but the orange trees themselves, and can keep the whole surface well pulverized and free from ex- traneous growth — that is, after all, the best plan. CHAPTER XXI. THE ORANGE TREE IN BEARING. EXTRA CARE.— The orange tree when it begins to bear requires extra attention. Not only should the cultivation be most thorough, but, beginning with the time when the fruit first forms, there must be more irrigation than formerly, and every means must be adopted to keep the tree up to full vigor as it assumes its new pro- ductive function. TENDENCY TO OVERBEAR.— The natural tendency of the tree is to overbear; i. e., to form more fruit than it can properly mature, or at least so much that, if ma- tured, its own vitality suffers thereby. THINNING THE FRUIT.— For this reason it is imperative that the fruit first formed be thinned out with no sparing hand. If two-thirds or three-quarters of the sets are pulled off when they are the size of a hazelnut, it will be the better for the tree. How many oranges a tree should be al- lowed to bear the first season it would be impossible to say, as so much depends upon the size and strength of the tree, but I would place the safe limit somewhere between three and twenty. Aim to keep within rather than to pass the limit by a single orange, and the future well-being of the tree will reward you therefor. When a tree overbears at first it is gener- ally stunted, and in such case the original yield mfly be its best for a number of years. In some instances the tree never produces so good fruit afterwards. The second season more liberty may be al- lowed in the matter of production, but both tree and owner must still practice self denial to a degree. AFTER PRODUCTION.— The second year of bearing a budded tree may be allowed 70 THE CHANGE; to produce fro in twenty-five to fifty or- anges, the third year two hundred, and thus increasing proportionately until in full bearing. FRUIT THINNING AFTERWARDS DESIR- ABLE.—The careful grower will not over- look the thinning of his fruit at any age of the tree. Thus only is the finest qual- ity and a good uniformity of fruit to be obtained. As the trees become large the task of thinning increases to laborious proportions, but that is no reason why it should be overlooked. No greater over- sight is to be charged to our orange grow- ers generally than in their neglect to re- press the over-productive tendency of their trees. A SHORT CUT IN THINNING.— An expe- ditious way of thinning the fruit adopted by some growers is to prune their trees quite heavily in June or in one of the fall months when in a dormant stage. This finds the fruit newly set or half formed, and a fair proportion of it is removed with the severed limbs. I believe this to be an excellent plan, "killing two birds with one stone," and both of them pretty good birds. PROPS.— If the high system of prunning has been observed, the fruit will be borne near the extremities of long slender branches, and it is generally necessary to sustain these branches with props from the time the oranges are half grown until ma- tured and gathered. Poles with forked ends are in general use for this purpose. If props are not used, the limbs often break with their weight of fruit and thus the grower suffers loss both in crop and tree. PRODUCTIVE CAPACITY OF SEEDLING.— A seedling tree at Riverside bore at nine years of age sixty oranges ; the next year five hundred, and the next two thousand, when it was accounted at fullest produc- tiveness. Not all seedling trees even when vigorous and healthful in every way can do as well as this or ought, in fact, to be allowed to produce so heavily. YIELD OF BUDDED FRUIT LESS.— Semi- drawf budded varieties will never give so large a yield, tree for tree, as seedlings ; but the difference is made up by the ear- liness of bearing, the extra number of trees to the acre, and the superior quality of the fruit. CHAPTER XXII. PICKING, PACKING AND SHIPPING. PICKING TOO EARLY.— The most ad- vanced of the orange fruit, having at- tained about three-fourths of its normal size, begins to assume a yellowish color in December and January. Some growers, desirous of obtaining the good prices which prevail at the opening of the mar- ket, pick such oranges as appear ripe in January and February. When they do this they make a mistake. The juices are not at that time properly developed and ripened, and the fruit is sour and really unfit to eat. The short-sighted people who sell such trash do not stop to consider that for a mere temporary gain they are ruining the reputation of their fruit, and that for every dollar thus made they must ultimately lose two. The man who eats one of these sour oranges will surely think less and eat less of the fruit the rest of the season— perhaps for the rest of his natural life. THE TIME OF RIPENING.— Oranges be- gin to attain their best flavor in February, and that is the time when the market should be opened. The fruit on the outer branches most exposed to the sun ripens first and is the best. That growing on the inside of the tree, besides being slower in maturing, does not color so highly and is inferior in flavor. LONG PRESERVATION.— The orange, un- like most other fruits, does not begin to deteriorate directly after ripening, and then drop from its stem. It will hold its juices in perfect preservation from March until June, after which it suffers gradual loss, but remains palatable until August or September. All this time it maintains its place on the tree, unless subjected to ITS CULTUEE IN CALIFOBNIA. 71 some accident, such as the pricking of a thorn or a violent shaking by the wind or other disturbing element. A YEAR ON THE TREE. — It is not an unusual thing to find oranges hanging upon the tree a full year after maturity and when the next succeeding crop is ripe. Such old fruit, although in out- ward appearance as sound and handsome as ever, is found when picked to be soft, and when opened, to contain only a juice- less pith. ORANGES SHOULD NOT BE LEFT Too LONG. — It is a bad plan to leave oranges unpicked later than March and April, at which time the tree puts forth its blos- soms for the next crop. A moment's reasoning will show that the old fruit, in the effort to maintain itself, must absorb no slight quantity of the juices of the tree, and this to the detriment of the forthcoming crop. Thus the young or- anges are robbed of their proper aliment, while the old grow no better, and nothing but loss results. THE PROPER SEASON— For picking or- anges is then from February to April. In the earlier part of this season I would ad- vise a nice discrimination, in order that only the fully ripe fruit be taken. Al- though the color may be substanstially the same, a practiced eye and hand can easily detect the difference between the ripe and the unripe. In the latter part of the season the picker may gather the fruit clean from the tree as he goes. THE BEST PICKER. — Although a num- ber of machines and devices have been in- vented for picking, I know of no better im- plement than the human hand. The man or woman who supplies the hand and the motive power therefor may stand on the ground when the tree is small, otherwise on a step-ladder. The picker twists the fruit a little to one side, and with a quick double jerk breaks the stem close up. It does not answer to pluck the orange with straight outward pull, as in that case a small patch of skin adhering to the stem is often taken out, thus ruining the orange for market. MUST NOT BE BRUISED.— In no case should the oranges be dropped to the ground or thrown even a few feet to their receptacle. The picker generally carries a sack slung to his shoulder. GATHER WHEN DRY.— Oranges should not be gathered in wet weather or when there is dew on the trees, the dampness being unfavorable to the keeping quali- ties of the fruit. When the picker's sack is full he de- posits the contents in a pile beneath the tree, or in a box or barrel, thence to bo hauled to the packing house. Too HASTY PACKING.— It has been al- most a universal custom with our growers to sort and pack the fruit immediately after picking, and ship at once. I pass over without just reprobation the careless manner in which this work has usually been done. The result in demoralized markets and short returns has been shown and commented on elsewhere. For present purposes it is sufficient for me to point out the better way. Those who are joined to their idols and will not learn from experience are not likely to be admonished by a scolding. CURING. — Although we have totally ig- nored the plan practiced in other countries of curing or seasoning our oranges before packing, and have succeeded fairly in making our fruit keep without it, I still think that the coming packer will adopt this system. When carried to the packing house the oranges should be spread upon shelves or racks not more than two or three layers deep, all haying glaring de- fects being at that time rejected. The fruit is thus left from two to five days, during which a portion of the water is evaporated from the skin, leaving it more tough and elastic and not so susceptible to damage by bruising as in the fresh state. Slight blemishes not readily discoverable at first are likely to develop by this time, and the defective fruit may then be thrown out. SORTING. — I would advise every packer to have two grades of fruit. Let him make the first grade as uniform in size and color as possible, and first class in every respect. In sorting for this he should reject 1— All fruit affected by rot. 2— All fruit pricked by thorns. 3 — All fruit with skin torn or abraded. 4— All fruit that is unripe. THE ORANGE; 5 — All fruit that is under-colored. 0 — All fruit that is too large. 7 — All fruit that is too small. For the second class he may put in all fruit rejected from the first that is sound and ripe, irrespective of size and color. CLEANING.— If the fruit is disfigured by smut, this should be removed with a brush before packing. THE GRADER. — An apparatus which greatly facilitates the assorting of oranges is known as the grader, an illustration of which appears here with: are in use: One, known as the California box, is 8 inches wide, 19 inches high and 22^ inches long. The ends are a little less than an inch thick and the sides and bottom half an inch. There are two boards on each side, between which cracks of half an inch to an inch are left for venti- lation. Another, called the Eastern box, is 13 inches wide, 13 inches high and 26 inches long, outside measurement. It is com- posed of the same material as the other box, but is divided into two compart- ments, each of which measures a cubic foot in the clear. Ciacks are also left for ventilation. The Easternbox is now most favored. THE GRADER. There is no standard orange grader. The grader in use at Riverside consists of a stand 38 inches by 9K feet in surface di- mensions. It is inclined from one end to the other, the higher end standing 36 inches from the ground and the lower 18 inches. At the upper end there is a table inclined somewhat, but not so much as the rest of the apparatus; dimensions 38x33 inches. Below this there are two series of slats running lengthwise, each 40 inches long. These slats perform the office of a riddle for the oranges in process of sort- ing. The slats in the upper series are 2>£ inches apart, and those in the lower series 3 inches apart. The fruit is first placed upon the table .and then allowed to roll down the incline. The smallest fruit drops between the slats of the first series. The rest run over these slats and the next in size fall between those of the second series. The oranges that are too large for the last slats (i. c., more than three inches in dia- meter) run off. the end of the table. Thus three grades are accomplished. Beneath each of the riddles is fastend a burlap, bagging to the middle, where there is a hole allowing the oranges to roll into the receptacle provided for them. By this ap- pliance the work of grading is accom- plished very quickly and accurately. PACKING BOXES.— Two kinds of boxes WRAPPING. — Our more pro- gressive packers are adopting the plan of wrapping each or- ange in paper as it is placed in the box. This involves a good deal of labor and some expense, but it also offers these advantages: 1. It is a protection to the fruit against bruising while in transit. 2. It absorbs surplus moisture, thereby preventing rot. 3. It places the fruit in the market in a tasty manner and conveys the impression that the packer at least had a good appre- ciation of it. 4. If the wrappers are printed, it becomes a means of advertising the producer or packer and the variety of the fruit. The buyer who likes the oranges will look for that wrapper the next time he buys. NUMBER OF ORANGS TO THE Box.— With the cases above described oranges run from 100 to 250 to the box. The happy medium is 150; — this for seedlings or av- erage sized budded fruit, like the Navel or Mediterranean Sweet. Small fruit like the St. Michael will go 200 to the box on a good average. NUMBERING THE CONTENTS.— The or- anges are counted as they are packed and the number each box contains marked on one end. BOXES WELL FILLED. — The boxes should be filled so that when the lid is put on it will press the fruit down sufficiently to prevent it from shaking about in hand- ling. COST OF PICKING AND PACKING.— The ITS CULTUEE IN CALIFORNIA. 73 Riverside Fruit Company gives the cost per box as follows : Gathering $0.05 Packing, including wrapping 30 Box .15 Total £0.50 SHIPPING.— As soon as possible after packing the boxes should be shipped. MARKETS.— Up to the time the Southern Pacific railroad was completed, giving di- rect rail communication with the East, our only market for large quantities of citrus fruits was San Francisco. Hand- ling our products from the early times, when the fruit had not been brought to a high standard, and when the packing was uniformly bad, the San Francisco mer- chants got into a way of slaughtering it, and the growers of Southern California were at their mercy. Now that our peo- ple are making an effort to establish a bet- ter order of things, they find their past bad record and the settled habits of the San Franciscans against them. The metrop- olis of the State is therefore quite general- ly voted an uncertain market. This has induced producers and jobbers within the past two or three years to look eastward for the disposal of their fruits. Arizona and New Mexico are our natural fields of consumption and these have been fully supplied. Markets have been opened also in Denver, Kansas City, St. Louis, nicago, Minneapolis, and some ship- ments have been made as far as the At- lantic seaboard. Not all of these ship- ments have proven satisfactory. This fact is not to be wondered at when we consider that many of the shipments were pioneer efforts. Some of the ven- tures, however, were highly satisfactory. A Riverside shipper cites his experience as follows: " My oranges sold in San Francisco last season (1884) from $2 to $4 per box. At about the same time in Denver the same class of my seedling oranges (165 to the box) sold for $ 7.83. Another gentleman who shipped to Denyer with me received for his very choice Riverside Navels, $8.22 per box of 137. It costs about $4.20 to pay freight and commission on a box of Riverside lemons sold in Denver and $3.50 on a tbox of oranges. The cost of shipment to San Francisco and commis- sion is 75 cents per box. This makes the Denver market nearly $2 per box better than San Francisco." FREIGHTS. — The high freights of the Southern Pacific railroad* have been the chief impediment to eartern shipments. Some concessions were made by this com- pany during the past year, but the tariff is still too high. It is to be hoped that the advent of a competing railroad, wkich we have in the Atlantic and Pacific,now estab- lishing termini on this coast, will put quite a different face on the matter;— tha we shall soon have cheap access to all available Eastern markets. One thing is certain: San Francisco cannot be relied on to furnish an outlet for our vast citrus productions, and [the sooner our people establish their own commercial relations with consuming markets the larger their returns. AVOIDING THE TROUBLE OF PICKING, PACKING AND SHIPPING.— Of late years, jobbing firms of wealth and experience have come to the fore as purchasers of our citrus fruits, and the most common practice among producers is to sell their crops on the trees. They are thus relieved of all trouble and responsibility in the premises, and realize more satisfactorily than though they undertook the work themselves. The jobbers, well versed in the modus operandi of packing, shipping and supplying the various markets, can handle the fruit to much better advantage than individual producers. *NOTE.— The railroad company reduced the rate on oranges last year (1884) to all points east of the Missouri river from $350 to $250 per carload; to Tucson and Benson, A. T., to $225 per carload; to Kansas City $200 per carload. The through rates two years ago were as high as $600 per car. The difference in favor of orange growers is very large, being over $1 per box. This traffic is only in its inception. Each year it will increase, and with the increase no doubt further reductions will occur. THE OEANGE; CHAPTER XXIII. REJUVENATING OLD TREES— BUDDING OLD TREES. When old orange trees become sickly and practically useless by reason of ex- hausted vitality or insect pests they may be restored by adopting the following course; Denude the tree of leaves alto- gether, cutting away all of the top except the leading branches. Wash these branch- es and the trunk thoroughly with an in- secticide and wrap the trunk in burlap to protect it from the sun. Manure the ground about the tree, and irrigate thor- oughly. The tree will send out a multi- tude of new shoots, which should be thinned out judiciously. In one year the tree will have a fine top and in two years will begin again. In this way diseased trees may generally be entirely reclaimed. BUDDING OLD ORANGE ORCHARDS.— The question of converting old seedling orange trees into budded trees is attract- ing attention on account of the high price of the Riverside Navel as compared with the seedling fruit. A letter was recently written to Mr. Alex. Craw, foreman of the Wolfskill orchards in Los Angeles, for information relative to the budding re- cently done on the large trees in that or- chard, and the following reply was had, which was published in the Riverside PPESS AND HORTICULTURIST: " TWOGOOD eight, would be a little higher than here given; but for the practical compari- son the figures hold good. Column 6 gives the actual amount of juice obtained per single fruit, again in cubic centimeters, which, by division by the number 30 may be reduced to fluid ounces. Column 7 and 8 give the percentage in the juice of cane sugar (sucrose) and fruit sugar (levulose), the sum of sugars being shown in column 9. Column 10, finally, gives the percent- age of acid calculated as citric acid. ANALYSES OF CITRUS FRUITS. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 4 s I I og • o B *<>2 Sue ABS. «a sff g NAME. : | • «*• 1. Per cent. [ 0 e. Per cent, cm If 0 0 B. o S§ B ? f* 1 3? gl I . Per cent. CHANGES. 288 0 33 5 65 6 0 9 4 47 1 67 6 14 1 10 2. Riverside Navel (a) 3 Riverside Navel (b) 283.7 30.0 70.0 41.42 117.5 5.04 4.47 2.10 1.96 7.14 6.43 .92 .86 4. Paper Rind St. Michael. . . . 5. Malta Blood (a) . 158.0 139.0 17.3 26 8 80.1 73.2 2.6 52.58 48.55 82.7 67.5 4.09 3.92 1.68 1.81 5.77 7.73 1.01 1.52 6. Malta Blood (b) LEMONS. 7. Lisbon 115.2 35.7 63.9 0.4 43.40 50.0 4.01 1.55 5.56 1.34 6.79 8. Eureka 9. Limes 157.0 53.5 22.4 15.9 77.6 83.4 "6". 7* 45.22 56.53 71.0 30.3 7.21 6.86 1. Mediterranean Sweet orange, from W. H. Back- us. 2. Riverside Navel orange, from John G. North, Taken from a plate of five oranges which received the first prize for the best budded orange and best orange on exhibition. 3. Riverside (or Australian?) Navel orange, from J. E. Cutter. 4. Paper Rind St. Michael orange, from W. H. Backus. 5. Malta Blood orange, grower not mentioned. 6. Same, grower not known. 7. Lisbon Lemon, from E. W. Holmes. 8. Eureka lemon, from same. 9. Limes, from W. H. Backus. These analyses show some interesting and important points of difference between the several fruits. The Navel shows the highest total sugar and lowest acid of all; and this is true equally of the earlier and later samples, a and 6. The Mediterranean Sweet stands next in sugar percentage ;its acid is a little higher than that of the St. Micheals in absolute percentage, but the proportion between sugar and acid is prac- tically identical in the two, the juice of the St Michaels being a little weaker in both substances. The Malta Blood is a little lower in sugar then the St. Michaels, but exceeds it in acid by 50 per cent in the ear- lier sample. It thus would seem that, apart from its inviting outward appearance, the River- side Navel owes its place in public favor to three chief points: A high degree of sweet- ness, with a low degree of acid, and the firmness of flesh which invites it to be actu- THE ORANGE, ally eaten instead of "sucked" as one is acid. Assuming 7 per cent as the usual tempted to do with the other softer or- average, it will be noted that the Eureka anges. is nearly as much above it as the Lisbon The Mediterranean Sweet and the St. is below. The limes stand nearly at tlie Michael dispute precedence, according as same point as the Lisbon, but show a con- indivdual tastes differ in respect to size siderable higher proportion of pulp as and flavor; but the St. Michael seems to well as of juice then either of the two have a greater firmness of flesh in its fav- lemons, being fully 13 per cent above the or. The refreshing acidity and peculiar Lisbon in the latter respect, flavor of the Blood orange place it in a dif- While these comparisons will probably ferent category from the other three. hold good in general as between these The first six columns, however, furnish varieties, the absolute figures (percentages) food for additional consideration, especial- must be taken with allowance for the pe- ly when oranges are sold by the piece or culiarity of the season of 1884, with its un- thousand and not by weight. The Medi- usual rains and low temperature. A ref- terranean Sweet shows a slightly heavier erence to the analysis made in 1879 (see weight then the Navel, but the larger pro- the report of the College of Agriculture for portion of pulp in the latter more then that year, pp. 59 and 60) shows a much makes up for the difference. Owing to an higher average of both sugar and acid for accident, the proportion of juice to pulp the oranges and of acid for the lemons; was not determined in the case of the the proportion of pulp also seems to have Mediterranean Sweet; in the Navel the been higher throughout, figures show it to have been about 59 E. W. HILGARD. per cent, whereas in the St. Micheals it Berkeley, May 22, 1885. goes as high as 65.6, in the Malta to 66.3 per cent. The latter two are, therefore, ANALYSIS OF THE ORANGE. quite materially more juicy than the Navel, Composition of the ashes of the fruit: nence more delicate in transportation. Mineral The St. Michaels show the highest per- Constituents. Percent. Percent! centageof pulp of all, notwithstanding the Potash 20.15 15.28 relative abundance of seed; and hence a Soda 10.22 12.14 given weight of this variety would furnish ^S^V/^^r.^^n ^ol TlG the largest amount of eatable pulp,while if Phosphoric acid................ 20.04 18.24 bought per thousand, the light weight of Sulphuric acid 1.08 4.14 the fruit would leave the consumer mate- Silicic acid 4.50 rially "short" ascompared with the Navel Loss!.!L!?"Z.'.'.V".'.'.'.'.T.'.'. to do with the common scale and black dust. They prevail mostlj' along the coast valleys, and increase from San Diega 82 THE LEMON, LIME AND CITEON. northward, while the interior valleys are more generally free from the pests. San Diego i.s effected but slightly. The inte- rior valleys of Los Angeles county have less than the coast valleys, while San Ber- nardino county is entirely free from the Jjlack dust, and only occasionally has the scale. "All new countries experiment with fruits by planting the seed, raising the tree and fruiting it. If successful, the cul- ture is then commenced more systemati- cally. This course was pursued with the orange and lemon. Seeds from the Sicily lemon were planted, and the fruit thereof was called the Sicily lemon. In this re- spect there is a wide difference between the orange and lemon, as the Seedling or- ange is a valuable fruit, while, as a rule, the Seedling lemon is worthless." Conceding the fact that the area of pos- sible production is much smaller for lem- ons than for oranges, and that the indus- try is less likelj' to be overdone than any other branch of citrus culture, it seems to me that lemon growing otters great in- ducements to the horticulturist* who is rightly situated to engage in it. The char- acter of the lemon as a fruit is also quite different from that of the orange, the form- er being more of a staple. Lemon juice enters largely into manufactured pro- ducts— in citric acid and in cooking. The habit of the tree also in forming and ma- turing its fruit successively for several months of the year favors a long market. Under proper conditions the lemon tree is hardy, thrifty and a prolific bearer. It requires less water than the orange. These are all advantages worth considering. The imported lemon sells in the leading markets at from $8 to $10 per box, or from $24 to $30 per thousand; the California lemon commands from $2.50 to $3 per box, or from $10 to $15 per thousand. Why should not the California lemon, if raised to an equal standard with the im- ported fruit command an equal price? In 1881 the importation of lemons to the United States amounted to 860,241 boxes, or a total -of 301,084,352 lemons. For the ten years preceding 1881 there had been an average increase of 54,271 boxes annu- ally. As long as this vast and increasing consumption continues, there must be a field for lemon growing. CHAPTER II. AN INVESTIGATION OF LEMONS AND LEMON CULTURE. At the Citrus P"air, held in Riverside in 1883, a committee was appointed to make thorough scientific tests, for purposes of comparison of lomons grown in Califor- nia and of some samples of the imported fruit. The committee was also instructed to consider the status of lemon growing in California, and to report upon the best means for the promotion of the industry. The committee made a valuable report, a portion of which is subjoined: EXTRACT FROM THE REPORT OF THE COM- MITTEE. " To assist the growers of citrus fruits in Southern California in supplying the in- creased demand for the lemon, and to place the crops grown by them properly before the consumers of the Pacific Coast, was the object of this examination. "That there is a very profitable field yet unoccupied by the growers of citrus fruits, is very clearly shown by the following statistics, gathered from the valuable re- port of J. H. Bostwick, upon the importa- tion of green fruits into the United States for 1881 and preceding years. " From this we find that in the years 1872 and 1881 the inportations were as follows: No. Boxes. No. Lemons. 1872 317,532 111,136,200 1881 8!>0,241 301,084,352 "An increase in ten years of 542,709 boxes and 189,918,152 lemons; an annual average increase of 54,271 boxes. " It is a notabe fact that while the impor- tation of the lemon has increased so rap- idly, that of the orange, during the same time, has increased only half as much from all sources, and it is reasonable to suppose that this increase in the importation of the orange will be entirely checked within ten years by the great productiveness of the THE LEMON, LIME AND CITKON. 83 growers of Florida, Louisiana, and Cali- fornia. " The foreign lemon, always command- ing the highest price in the San Francisco market, was adopted by the committee as a standard of comparison for the lemons grown in Southern California. " Freshly imported specimens were se- cured from Messina, Malaga and Paler- mo, direct from Boston, through the lib- erality of Mr. H. B. Everest, and Messi- n as from Messrs. Dalton «fe Gray, of San Francisco, the latter having been picked some six months. All the specimens were in good condition. " The lemons of Southern 'California were from all the important fruit-growing districts of this section, and from the fact that they were picked about the same time and cured in the same manner, the collection was the best in its average ap- pearance and quality ever placed upon exhibition in the State. "The following table shows the result of the»analyses: OQ' | ? 1 B S fj U § B B B a fft- a a a (Tt- a VARIETY. . 5* s' gl I 2 x c o' s' Hi 01 i 0 i 00 B i Lisbinj, average 11 tests Kureka, average 7 tests 28.1 !l0.19 25. 251 9.33 36.6 37.0 8.86 8.81 .89 .81 Sweet Rind, 1 test 34.0 J10.12 29.7 8.77 .89 Knoly >y 17.5 ! fi-0 34.2 9.15 .55 Imported Messina 26.5 12.0 45.2 8.19 .98 Impbrted Palermo 17.0 5.75 33.8 9.65 .55 Imported Malaga 21.5 7.0 32.5 8.29 .58 " The following points were adopted as a basis of comparison with the foreign lem- ons: "First — Appearance, including size of lemon and quality of rind. " Second — Bitterness. "Third — Percentage of acidity. " FIRST — APPEARANCE, ETC. — A lemon weighing about three ounces, when cured, of a bright golden color, with a smooth, soft rind, seems to be the favorite in the markets; and in all these respects the com- mittee were unanimous in the opinion hat the budded lemons on exhibition for Southern California were fully equal to the best imported. 14 The Sweet Rinds and most of the Seed- lings, with an occasional Lisbon and Eureka, were above the standard size and weight. This will nearly always occur when the fruit is permitted to hang longer upon the tree than is necessary to mature it for market. " It was noticed in the examination that the lemons of Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles, Anaheim and San Diego were nearly globular in form, and all hav- ing a smooth, morocco-like texture of the rind, while those of the same varieties found in San Gabriel and Pasadena were more elongated in form and not as smooth, and those of Riverside and vicinity were still more elongated and rougher in rind— a marked difference that must, in the opinion of the committee, be attributed to the differences in the temperature and hu- midity of the atmosphere in the localities named. "It is noticeable that the smoothness and thinness of rind indicate greater quan- tity of juice, owing to the better develop- ment and cured state of the lemon. The extreme size does not show its proportion- al quantity of juice, but the medium sizes show the best averages. " SECOND — BITTERNESS.— A bitter lemon is worthless for market purposes, and to the fact that so many of the Seedling lem- ons of California are bitter, is to be attrib- uted, to a great extent, the low value of this lemon in the San Francisco markets. "The test for bitterness, as adopted by the committee, was much more severe than that required of the lemon in ordi- nary use; yet the result was an exceeding- ly favorable one for the best budded vari- eties of our lemons. "Out of forty-eight samples tested, thir- ty were entirely free from bitterness; seven showed only a trace, and eleven were decidedly bitter. " We think, from this showing, it will not be difficult for our fruit growers to eliminate all traces of- bitterness from the fruit grown here. To do this successfully the causes must be thoroughly under- stood, and the remedies, well known, as thoroughly applied. "As a foundation for further and more 84 THE LEMON, LIME AND CITRON. investigation, we oiler the fol- lowing suggestions as to causes: 44 We are inclined to the belief that the stock has a great deal to do with the bit- terness of the fruit. It is well known that the fruit of the Seedling Sicily lemon is, as a rule, bitter, as grown in Southern Cali- fornia, while the fruit grown from buds upon the sweet orange stock is generally more free from bitterness. Of the eleven varieties marked as bitter in the foregoing list, it will be seen that six are Seedlings, four are budded on the lemon stock, and only one was on orange stock. "The condition of the fruit during growth will, to some extent, cause bitter- ness of the rind. If checked in its growth by lack or excess of moisture, or by cold, bitterness will .result. 44 Sample No. 12 is an evidence of this, as it is from a tree that last season pro- duced fruit entirely free from bitternees, while this season the fruit was not fully grown and was imperfect when picked. [Tliis sample tested above the general av- erage in percentage of citric acid.] "Auain, we think that bitterness, like any other quality, can be transmitted through budding, and heitce, when bitter fruit is found in successive years upon the orange stock, it is due to want of care in selecting stock to bud from. " It is found also that fruit from young trees shows traces of bitterness that \\ill gradually be lost a* the tree increases with age. Occasionally this bitter principle ap- pears in the imported lemon, and it is pos- sible that it is found in foreign countries to the same extent as here, but that the period of picking and the curing pro- cess the fruit undergoes in the voyage here, removes it. "THIRD — PERCENTAGE OF ACIDITY.— When freedom from bitterness is attained, the relative value of the lemon for com- mercial purposes will depend upon the percentage of acid it contains. In this re spect the tests, as far as we were ,able to make them, showed the superiority of the California!! over the imported fruit. The highest percentage of the imported Messina was 9.65 of acid, while that of the Califor- nia Lisbon reached 10.53, and another of {he same species was 10.23, and two of the California Eurekas were respectively and 10.43 per cent. 44 The average percentage of acid in, three tests made of the imported lemons gave 8. 71 percent., while that of nineteen tests of California budded lemons gave 9.04 per cent. 44 It is a fact worthy of notice that the fruits giving the highest percentage of acid were specimens from the lomon bud upon orange stocks, showing the value of this stock for the lemon. 44 From a careful analysis of the forego- ing it will seem that the California bud- ded lemon, properly grown and handled,, is the equal in every respect of the im- ported lemon. Your committee is there- fore forced to the conclusion that its want of appreciation in the San Francisco mar- ket is due from two causes: 44 First— Unjust prejudice against Cali- fornia lemons generally. ''Second — Want of care in the producer, in packing and handling the fruit. 44 That the first is true to some* extent, is shown by repeated shipments of budded lemons from Riverside to the Denver market during the past winter, where they brought ten dollars per box; two dol- lars per box more than the best imported lemons, while the same varietieties would be sold at San Francisco for two and four dollars per box lets than the imported lemon. It is fair to presume that the taste of consumers in Denver is as highly cul- tivated in this respect as that of the same class in San Francisco. 44 Second— That there is deplorable care- lessness in picking and handling this lemon is undoubtedly true, and to this cause may be attributed much of the loss that falls to individual producers, and to the trade generally. A prominent fruit grower of Riverside was in the city of San, Francisco a few weeks since, and saw in the warehouses of one of the largest com- mission merchants there, a large number of boxes of California lemons. Upon ex- aimnation he found them of all sizes, col- ors and shapes, tumbled into the boxesr without wrapping or care of any kind. The result was that they would either have to be sold at a price that would hardly pay freight and commission, or be stored for some weeks and then sorted THE LEMON, LIME AND CITIION. ;and repacked, at considerable cost to the •owner, and possibly largo loss of fruit. "As JIM appendix to tho above report. the committee would oiler the following: " RKCOM MKNDA rioxs. — Discard all trees tlwt, after a fair and repeated trial, con- tinue to show bitterness of fruit. " Exercise unreal care in the selection of varieties free from biiterness and rich in •citric acid, from which to bud. " Use the Seedling orange as a stock up- on which to bud, as the orange is a hardier 4iud hcalthiersiock, and the lemon budded upon il is hardier than upon lemon stock. •• Keep your i fees in a healthy, vigorous condition, especially during the fruiting season. ''The Lisbon and Eureka lemons are so far the most promising varieties, being productive;, early bearing, of medium si/e, lineappearanee, sweet rindaud rich in acid. "As the lemon can be kept from six to oil-lit months after picking, if properly handled and cured, and will improve rather than lose in quality during that lime, pick the fruit before it i.s ripe, or rather while a portion of the rind isu-reeu; store it for six or eight weeks in a cool, dry room, thoroughly ventilated, placing the fruit in thin layers on shelves or hur- dles, where it can readily be examined and picked over if necessary. "Avoid moisture during the process of curing. Sort when ready for maket, mak- ing at least two si xos or qualities, and pack none but perfect specimens, wrapping neatly in tissue paper, with the name of the variety and producer printed upon the "wrapper, as a guarantee of good faith in the shipper. "With those rules fully observed, wo see no reason to doubt the prompt appre- ciation of California budded lemons in every market, and a complete check given to the importation of foreign lemons into California. I,. M. HOT/T, 1 THOS. HKNDUY, j 11. J. RI-PJSILI., I Corn, G. W. GAKCKLON, L. G, WAITK. "W. X. MA^N, Sec'y." CHAPTER III. LEMONS— PROPAGATION AND CULTURE.. has proven an unreliable stock upon which to bud the orange, as it exercises enough influence through the budded growth fco render the fruit a bad orange and not a good lemon. The lemon stock in mature trees is (mite susceptible to gum disease, especially if much irrigated. There is then no call for propagating lem- on seed, except in the way of experiment. What has been said about rearing bud- Lemons are propagated in the same manner as oranges. It is unnecessary, theicfore, to review the subject of propa- gati'» in this connection. From what has been said in the (weced- ing chapter, the inference is plain that there is little demand for seedling lemon trees. The only lemons worth cultivat- ing are the choice budded varieties. Ex- perience has demonstrated that the or- is a hardier stock than the lemon, (led orange trees in nursery applies equal- and as it is believed that there is no dete- rioration of fruit by this conjunction, it has come to be a universal practice to grow lemons on orange roots.* The lemon ly to budded lemons, and almost the same may be repeated through the whole cate- gorv of planting the trees, cultivating, priming, freeing from insects, manuring and rejuvenating when worn out. There is in fact, the greatest similarity between these twin sisters in the citrus family— *NOTK. — Dr. O. H. Congar, of Pasadena, a recog- nized authority on ciirus culture, takes issue with this commonly accepted theory, claiming lint the lemon deteriorates in budding upon orange stock. He holds that enough of the orange characteristics are incorporated to re«der the lemons of an ungain- the orange and lemon. A novice would possfbie^hat further 'JVarsTof 'experiment 'may scarcely detect the difference in si/e and d'-Tiionslrate that Dr. Congar is measurably correct. s|jape of tree, foliage and bloom, although and. if ST. lemons will he budded on lemon stocks only, ami omnyes on orange stocks. there is an appreciable difference on close 86 THE LEMON, LIME AND CITRON. inspection. The wide divergence is man- ifested only in the fruit, and these are probably not the only twin sisters that have proven strangely sweet and sour. In pruning lemins some of our most ex- perienced cultivators favor a low growth, as they think that most nearly conforms to the natural habit of the tree. This was adverted to in the chapter on pruning. CHAPTER IV. BUDDED VARIETIES. As the budded varieties of lemons are alone commended, it is in order to give a list of the kinds grown and a description of each. The list is scant, but it comprises some excellent varieties, any of which would redeem the character of lemon cul- ture in California. SWEET RIND.— This was the first im- proved variety originated here as a seed- ling. It is a fair lemon, but is excelled by others since introduced. THE LISBON.— This was the first foreign variety introduced,coming from Australia. The tree is a strong grower, quite thorny, not so early in bearing as other varieties. Fruit oblong, symmetrical, strong acid; more or less seeds; rind sweet and thin. Acid rarely goes below 7 per cent, and fre- quently exceeds that standard. THE EUREKA. — This is a chance seed- ling originated by Mr. U. R. Workman and introduced by Mr. T. A. Garey in 1877-8. The tree makes a vigorous growth, and is thornless. Fruit sharply pointed at blossom end, fair in texture, seedless and sweet rind; acid the best. GENOA. — Imported from Italy. Tree thornless and an earl y beaier. Fruit good in all respects except acidity. Tests show the amount of acid to vary so much that the fruit is not looked upon with favor. BONNIE BRAE.— This was originated by Mr. H. M. Higgins, of San Diego, from imported seed. I consider it the hand- somest lemon grown in California. (See full description in succeeding chapter.) Tree of average size, a strong grower, quite thorny. Fruit symmetrical, texture the finest, rind thin, almost seedless, acid fair, and the juice possesses a peculiar rich flavor. OLIVIA. — Originated by Mr. Geo. C. Swan, of San Diego. Tree somewhat thorny, good bearer. The fruit is excel- lent, test showing 8.08 per cent citric acid. GARCELON'S KNOBBY. — A variety origi- nated by Mr. G. W. Garcelon, of River- side, and not yet introduced for general propagation. The fruit is small and pe- culiarly marked with a long spike at the blossotrf* end. This variety possesses ad- vantages which may make it a favorite at no distant day. CHAPTER V. PREPARING FOR MARKLT. The same general principles which ap- ply to the handling of oranges apply to lemons. The fruit should be pick- ed when dry and stored for a period during which it undergoes a sweating and curing process. In this way the excess of moisture is evaporated from the skin, ren- dering it soft and pliable, with a texture somewhat like a kid glove. Lemons cured in this \va,y will keep a long time, and are not susceptible to decay in transit as the result of close packing or bruising. There is no secret about the curing pro- cess. The lemons are merely spread out THE LEMON, LIME AND CITKON. 87 in thin layers in a dry, cool, well ventilat- ed place and left anywhere from ten days to ten weeks, as suits the convenience of the grower. As the lemon ripens in mid- winter, whtn there is litlle call for acid fruits, the advantages usually sought by the producer is to keep his fruit as long as possible before putting it upon the market. In Florida, where the atmosphere is very humid, lemon producers have found it an advantage in (Miring their fruit, to fumigate it with sulphur to destroy the germs of fungus. The process has been tried here, but without satisfactory re- sults. In our dry climate there is proba- bly no better way to cure lemons than to- arrange them so that they have shade arid a plenty of air. Dr. Cougar advises- throwing the lemons in piles under the trees and leaving them there ten days or two weeks, when he says they will be most perfectly cured. The most advanced shippers grade their lemons carefully and wrap them in papers for shipment. The packing boxes em- ployed are the same as those used for or- anges. CHAPTER VI. THE BONNIE BRAE LEMON. I wish to call this variety into promi- nent notice, both because I believe it to be one of the finest lemons yet grown in Cal- ifornia, and because it is a stranger and needs an introduction. My attention was first called to the Bonnie Brae by a plate of the fruit on exhibition in the Los An- geles Citrus Fair of 1880. So different was this fruit from other varieties of lem- ons on display that people were at a loss whether to class it as a lemon at all. The cut presented herewith, showing a group of Bonnie Brae lemons on a stem, is a cor- rect representation, taken from life. The fruit is from medium to small, somewhat oblong, more abrupt^ rounded at the ends than ordinary lemons and possess- ing only slight protuberances at the blos- som and stem ends. The texture of the skin is as fine as a kid glove, and when the lemon has seasoned a few days slight longitudinal corrugations appear as shown jn the picture. The fruit is absolutely beautiful to look upon. Various and repeated examinations have convinced me that it is as good as it is handsome. The Bonnie Brae was originated by Mr. H. M. Higgins, of San Diego, from for- eign seed. He contented himself, it seems, with budding a nursery of one hundred trees from the original stock, making no great effort to introduce the variety to public attention. In 1883 I purchased three of the trees from him, but, being poorly packed for shipment and delayed! on the road, they were dried out and dead when they reached me. I made an effort to obtain others, but was too late, as Mr_ Higgins had parted with his entire re- maining stock, sending them to his broth- er in Lower California. In lieu of trees r however, he forwarded to me some buds- from the original tree. These I passed over to a nurseryman and had them in- serted in orange slock. I was fortunate enough to obtain therefrom one hundred and twelve thrifty trees, which are now growing on my place. Since my correspondence with Mr. Jlig- gins began, I have obtained two samples- of these lemons — one in 1883 and one in 1884 — and have subjected them to ever\r test I could devise, with the most satis- factory results. The average size of the fruit is about eight inches in longitudinal circumference. The most notable feat urea are its fine-textured skin, its bright color,, and its unusual weight. Divided with a, knife, the texture within is found to ful- fill the promise of the exterior. The rind is not above a sixteenth of an inch in thickness, and when the lemon has been allowed to season some time it reduces to a mere wafer. The pulp is tender, melt- ing and brimful of juice of fair acid char- acter and rich flavor. The seeds, if anyr are few and small. In both years that I tested the fruit I laid several lemons away in a drawer, where they remained up- THE LEMON, LIME AND CITEON. M-ards of eight months. Instead of rot- ting, they dried down to veritable lemon anummies, and the dessicated pulp still ;eft a -sharp acid taste on the tongue. This experiment demonstrated to my satisfaction the keeping qualities of the lemon. hundred Bonnie Brae. Mr. Higgins ob- tained his stock from the seeds of rotten lemons, all the best foreign varieties, hav- ing been saved and shipped to him by a fruit dealer in San Francises. The Sicily lemons (we use the term in contradistinc- tion to Bonnie Brae) are generally large, GROUP OF BONNIE BRAK I/KM ON S. In answer to an inquiry from me as to t .hi> origin of the Bonnie Brae, Mr. Ilig- irins wrote, under date of August 1-lth, 1884, as follows: " I saved the seed of the Sicily lemon, and from thai seed I obtained all varieties, from the commonest citron up to this fine lemon, which we named after the place, * Bonnie Rrae.' You cannot tell the tre« by its looks from any other lemon tree in the grove. It is not a lime in any sense <.f the word." In tin- San Diogo Union of March, 1882, I find quite a full description of Mr. Higgins's farm, in which the following occurs: "The lemon trees number about four hundred— three hundred Sicily and one thin skinned and juicy, and of a line flavor. But the Bonnie Brae is superfine. There is as much difference beween it and the ordinary lemon as there is between a com- mon bronco and a thoroughbred horse. Mr. Iliggins ran give no account of this superior variety beyond the fact that the fruit first appeared on a solitary tree in his orchard. This lemon is more oblong than the ordinary variety, has a smoother, thin- ner skin, is seedless, has a larger percent- age of juice and a richer flavor. This re- markable lemon is called Bonnie Brae by M r. 1 1 iggins, after the name of his orchard homo. Such a fine specimen of the citrus family has never been produced in any of the semi-tropic orchards of the world. It is an original product of San Diego conn- THE LEMON, LIME AND CITRON. tv. an<1 testifies unmistakably to the su- periority of the climate and soil of this locality. The orchard now contains quite a number of trees of ihe Itonnic Brae va- riety, budded on orange stock. There i no tendency to reversion, but, on the oth er hand, the fruit goes 0)1 steadily im proving." CHAPTFR VII. THE LIME AND OTHER CITRUS FRUITS. The If me grows in Southern California \vith ihe same culture as the orange and' lemon. It is a d\\arf tree or shrub, ac- cording to training, and bears a small fruit about one-half or one-third the si/e of a lemon, and strongly acid. The lime industry in California — if it may be thus dignified — is in xtvlv quo. Some years ago these trees were planted to a considerable extent, but they proved very susceptible to frost and were mostly killed out. A grove of some size is to be found at the Sierra Mad re A" ilia on the mesa, at an elevation of eighteen hundred feet above sea level. Here, being practi- cally free from frost, the trees flourish and bear well. No systematic effort b&0 ever been mado to improve the quality "of limes grown here. The Mexican product is superior to ours, and being imported in large quanti- ties, and at low prices, practically drives California limes out of the San Francisco market. Enough of the fruit is produced in Southern California to .supply local re- quirements, but there is at present no stimulus for further plantations. Some })< ople align their places with lime trees which they trim close for a hedge. Thus shortened in the limbs thicken, making the foliage dense, and forming altogether a very pretty hedge- row. If, in a severe winter, they chance to be stricken by frost, the lateral branches may be cut away, when the stocks will put forth new growth and, in a year, the hedge is itself again. Citrons are cultivated to a less extent even than limes. I may say, in fact, that they are only grown as curiosities. The same may be said of the Pumalo orange and Chinese lemon. All of these fruits are very laige and thick skinned. When utilized, the rind is the valuable part, the pj.ilp being either insipid or bitter. We are a'll familiar with the citron of com- merce, which vonsists of the rind of the citron fruit, deprived of its essential oil and cured as a preserve or confection. A few years ago a firm in San Francisco attempted tho preparation of citron for the trade, and, to this end, purcnasea an the citrons, Chinese lemons, and Pumalo oranges that were available in our section of the State. But we heard nothing fur- ther from the venture, and it was proba- bly a failure. There is no question, how- ever, but that, with the proper process, the citron of commerce might be manu- factured from our fruit. Meanwhile, the Pumalo and its congen- ers, when allowed growing space, continue to load themselves down with fruit as large as foot balls. They are matters of wonder, and that is all. The best citrus goods are done up in smaller parcels. APPENDIX. INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CITRUS TREES, [FROM THE WORK OF HON. MATTHEW^COOKE.] AND How TO COMBAT!THEM, 94 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CITRUS TREES. the insect has reached maturity, it assumes different shades of color — first, greenish brown; half grown, reddish brown, and at maturity, dark brown. It is doubtful if there are more than one brood in each year. The first brood is hatched, in Sacramento, about the first of May, but do not attempt to leave from un- der the scale until the twelfth, yet it is very common to find thefemales of this species depositing their eggs late in Sep- tember, but whether they are of the spring brood I am not prepared to say. In relation to the length of time the le- caniums are capable of moving from one place to another, Mons. V. Signoret writes: " Before pregnancy they have the power to move, if necessary." THE RED SCALE. (CAL.) (Aspidiotus aurentii — Maskell.) Synonym, Aspidiotus citrii — Comstock. Order, Hemiptera; sub - order, Homoptcru; family, Coccidce. [A circular reddish scale insect, infest- ing the citrus trees, and has been found on grape-vines and the foliage of walnut trees.] The red scale infests some of the citrus groves of Southern California, and orange trees in Sacramento and Marysville. It has also been found on grape-vines and on the foliage of walnut trees, but I do not think that any damage will be done to these plants by this pest. As the walnut sheds its foliage annually, the insects are likely to be destroyed; and those which I have examined on the grape-vines in the month of September, and which appeared to be in a healthy condition, were dead and shrunken when I examined the vines in the month of February following. It is generally conceded that this species is an importation from Australia. NATURAL HISTORY. — Female scale, nearly transparent, circular, of a light- grayish color, and measures from one lino to one and one-quarter lines in diameter; exuviae or cast skin in center, yellowish ; second larval skin easily distinguished. Male scale, a little darker in color and smaller than the female scale; form, elon- gated; exuvite nearest the anterior end. Eggs.—li is thought by some writers that the females of this species are vivipa- rous. I have watched the female insect ovipositing, and immediately examined the egg or sack under a microscope, using a high power, and could not detect any appendages; however, in twenty - four hours I noticed the presence of antennee and legs. The insect produces from two to four of these eggs or sacks in twenty- four hours, and the number produced by each female is from twenty to forty-three; the latter is the highest number I have found. In the month of September, 1882, 1 found a lemon at an orchard in Los Angeles county on which the larva* of thirty-nine male scale insects had located around the stem of the fruit, and as there was only one matured scale on the lemon this was evidently the number produced by one female. Larvacolor, bright yellow; form, ovoid; length, one-eightieth of an inch; antennae, six jointed; anal setae, present. Female: color, light or primrose yellow- when the scale is formed, but as it reaches maturity it becomes a brownish yellow. The formation of the body is such that under the scale, when examined with a lense, its appearance is that of a broken ring, but when ovipositing the posterior end of the abdomen extends beyond the circular line of the body. The color of the natural insect is shown through the nearly transparent scale from which it de- rives its common name — Red Scale. Male: color of body, amber yellow, with dark marking on thorax; eyes, black. Female red scale insect: color, yellow. The young larvae can be found at all sea- sons of the year, and there are probabty four or five broods in each year. THE RED SCALE OF FLORIDA. (Aspidiotus flcns— Riley, MSS.; Chr}/*<»n- phalus ficus— Riley, MSS. Ashmead.) Order, Hemiptera; sub-order, Homop- tera; family, Coccidce. [A species of scale insect infesting the branches, foliage and fruit of orange trees in Florida and the Island of Cuba.] Professor Comstock describes this spe- cies as follows: " Female Scale. — Color, the part of the scale covering the second skin is a light reddish brown; the remain- der of the scale is much darker, varying INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CITRUS TREES. 95 from a dark reddish brown to black, ex- cepting the thin part of the margin, which is gray; exuviae nearly central, whitish in fresh specimens; form, circular, one line in diameter. Male Scale. — The scale of the male is about one-fourth as large as that of the female; the posterior side is prolonged into a thin flap, which is gray in color. (See United States Agricultural Report, 1880; and Ashmead on ' Orange Insects,' 1880." THE LEMON-PEEL. SCALE. (OAL.) ^Axjtidiofuft nerii— Bouche.) Order, Hem- iptera; sub-oi'der, Homoptera; family, [A whitish circular scale insect, infest- ing the lemon, plum, cherry and currant; also the oleander, acacia, magnolia, etc.] This species has been known to* sci- entists as the " Oleander Scale," from which it derives its specific name, nerii. Within the last four or five years it has been found on the lemon, plum, cherry and currant; also on the acacia, magnolia, etc. It seems to prefer the fruit of the lemon, and in many cases infests the skin or peel to such an extent as to reduce its market value. California cannot claim a sol* proprietary right to this pest, as lem- ons imported from Europe are often offer- ed for sale in our market wrhich are seri- ously infested by A. nerii. NATURAL HISTORY.— The female scale is of a whitish color, and nearly circular, measures one line in diameter; exuviae or cast skin, yellowish, and near the cen- ter. Male scale, white, smaller and not as circular as that of the female. Egg, light yellow. Larva, yellowish white; length, one-eighty-fifth of an inch. Fe- male, light yellow, with darker blotches; body, circular; abdominal segments ap- pear as a pointed projection at one part of the circle. Male insect, winged; body, yellowish, with dark markings. The lemon-peel scale insect closely resembles the red seal, and it is only by the differ- ence in color that a person not thoroughly acquainted with the respective species can distinguish them. PEROANDE'S ORANGE SCALE. (CAL.) ( Parlatoria pergandn—Comstock.) Order, Jlrmiptera; sub - order, Homoptera; family, Coccidce. [A scale insect infesting the branches, foliage and fruit of citrus trees.] I have found this species on the orange tree in Sacramento, but have not found it in any other part of the State. The female scale is somewhat elongated in form, but nearly circular, the exuviae at one side of the center; color, grayish; exuvhe yellow, and generally oval in shape. The scale of the male is elongated and narrow; color, dirty white, exuviae at the anterior end. Female — color, purplish, with posterior end of the body yellowish, and is nearly as broad as long. Eggs — color, purplish; elongated; from nine to twenty found under each female scale. Larva — length, nearly one-nineteenth of an inch; color, purplish. Male — color, dark purplish. THE CITRUS LEAF AND FRUIT SCALE. (Mytilaspis citricola — Packard.) Syno- nym, Aspidiotus citricola — Packard. Order, Himiptera; sub-order, Homop- tera; family, Coccidce. [An elongated, slightly curved scale in- sect, infesting citrus trees.] This species of scale insect has not been found on any of the citrus trees in this State, so far as I know, but it will be strange if it is not found in the near fu- ture. It is not a rare occurrence to find it on oranges, etc., which are imported from Europe, Australia and Tahiti, and offered for sale on fruit stands throughout the State. The scale of this species is similar in form and appearance to that of the oyster shell bark-louse, excepting that it may be a little wider at the posterior end. Length of female scale, about one and one-half lines. The male scale is similar to other species of Mytilaspis in having a hinge- like joint, posterior to the middle of the scale, so that by lifting the posterior part up the perfect insect can emerge. THE SOFT ORANGE SCALE. (CAL.) (Lecanium hesperidum— Linnaeus.) Order, Hemiptera; sub-order, Homoptera; fam- ily, Coccidce. [An oval flattened scale insect, infesting citrus trees, especially the orange.] The soft orange scale is found in Califor- nia in nearly every locality where citrus trees are grown. It infests the wood, foli- 96 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO CITRUS TREES. age and fruit. This, or a closely-allied species, is found on plants in hot-houses. Professor Comstock, in his Entomolog- ical Report of 1880, writes: "The male of this species has never been found, al- though it has been studied from the lime of Linnaeus down." In September, 1880, I prepared a dry mounting of a specimen of Lecanium hes- peridum for microscopic use at the State Fair of "that year. Early in the week a small insect was noticed coming from un- der a specimen beneath the glass, and finally released itself, it proved to be a male scale insect. NATURAL, HISTORY. — Female — a broad, oval scale, measuring from one and one- quarter to one and one-half lines in length, widest at the posterior end; color, dark brown on top, and a lighter brown sur- rounding the margin. Two indentations on the margin on each side, and a large indentation on the posterior end. It has powers of locomotion similar to those of other LccnuiidKN. I have not found the egg of this species, but have found large numbers of the young larvae — as many as forty -five under one specimen. The young larva; appear about the first of May in the vicinitj'of Sacramento. Larva length, one-eighty-rifth of an inch; color, dark or dirty yellow; antenna*, six jointed (some specimens appear to have seven joints); two anal setae. DESCRIPTION. — Length of body, one- seventy-second of an inch; from front of head to apex of wing, one-twenty-fourth of an inch; posterior stylets, one-forty- fifth of an inch, or one-half the length of body; color, body, immaculate golden yellow; eyes, dark or black; antenna; (from the peculiar position in which they are placed I can only count seven joints), golden yellow and hairy; legs, golden yellow. As it did not agree with the description of any of the male scale insects I had read of, or specimen males of aurantii, pci cioaus, persece, rapax, roseae, or purchast . nay possession, I could only imagine that it was the male of L. ty yeridum (be what it may, it came from u.. }r the L. hesper- idum scale), and fortunately I preserved the mounting. COTTONY CUSHION SCALE. (CAL.) (fcerya purchasi— Mask ell.) Order, He- miptera; sub-order, Homoptera; family, Coecidce. [A white, cushion-like scale insect, feed- ing upon citrus trees, deciduous fruit trees, forest trees and on some varieties of veg- etables.] This species of scale insect I consider the most dangerous of any that infests fruit and other trees in California, as it may be said to be a general feeder. It is found on all varieties of citrus trees, de- ciduous fruit trees, on many varieties of ornamental trees, forest trees and shrubs; also on some varieties of vegetables. The apparent color of this scale insect at first sight is white, with a dark colored head. On examination it is found that the part indicated by the dark color is the insect, and the white portion a bag or case spun by the insect to conceal her oggs when de- posited. The females, after ovipositing (the egg case included), differ in size, some meas- uring six lines in length ; but the general length is from three to four lines; width, one and one-half to three lines, and slight- ly tapering toward the posterior end. %Cach female deposits from two hundred to rive hundred eggs. In one instance 1 counted seven hundred and three. The egg's are oblong-ovate in form, and of a pale red color. Larva — color, body red; antemi;», six jointed, clubbed at the apex, on which are six long hairs — color, smoky black; legs, smoky black (the joints of the antennae and legs are lighter in color than the bal- ance); there are six long anal hairs; the margin of the body and back is also dot- ted with hairs; length of body, one-thirty- fifth of an inch. The female insect during her growth assumes a variety of colors; principally yellowish red, with irregular blotches of white, green and yellow. At full growth, and before spinning egg case, she is ovoid in form. The hairs on the anal margin and sides are used as spinarets, exuding •a. cottony-like secretion, of which the egg case is formed. During her growth, and before beginning to spin her egg case, the females exude a honeydew, which forms a black smut on the branches and foliage, INSECTS INJUEIOUS TO CITRUS TKEES. 97 as described under the head, Black Scale. Male insect, winged; color, thorax and body dark brown, abdomen red; antenna? dark colored, with light brown hairs ex- tending from each joint; wings brown, irridescent. TREATMENT FOR SCALE BUGS. [From the Bulletin of the Los Angeles Horticultu- ral Commission.] * In all cases of infection from the white cottony cushion scale, it is recommended that the trees be thoroughly sprayed pre- vious to any pruning. This plan is deem- ed the better one, because the danger of scattering and spreading the insects is much less than in the practice of cutting back or thinning out the trees previous to medicating. If properly and thoroughly used this first application will kill a con- siderable proportion of the bugs, many of which, if the trees were first pruned or cut back, notwithstanding the use of great caution and care in removing brush to the fire, would fall to the ground and seek adjoining trees or plants for food and breeding spots. Use for spraying white scale, 35 pounds whale-oil soap, 4 gallons coal oil (110 fire test), to every 100 gallons of water. The coal oil must be made into an emulsion with the soap first, then add balance of soap and water, in the following manner: First, boil the soap in as little water as pos- sible, as the soap must be thick to take up the coal oil and make a proper emulsion. When thoroughly dissolved and well boil- ed, place five gallons of this hot soap in an empty barrel, some distance from the boiling kettle, to prevent accident from fire; then add coal oil and churn vigor- ously for about ten minutes, with a stick with cross pieces about five inches wide at the end, forming a T. If the mixture at this time turns to a thick crearn, pour in a little cold water — say two gallons — and churn again for a few moments; then add five or more gallons of water. Do not pour in water all at once, but a little at a time, and churn constantly while pouring in the water. This mixture, when prop- erly emulsified, will form a whitish, creamy substance. The most particular attention must be given to making the emulsion properly, otherwise the oil, not being incorporated with the soap and wa- ter, will rise to the top, and while portions of the tree will receive an overdose of kerosene, other parts will get little else than soap and water. The result will be unsatisfactory, for the coal oil must go with the soap to do effectual work in kill- ing the bug. As soon as practicable after the first ap- plication, proceed to cut back and thin out the tree, burning the brush as near the tree from which it is taken as possible without danger of injury to it. A large canvas under the tree during the pruning will, if carefully disinfected at the finish, prove of considerable benefit. A band of rope, thoroughly smeared with coal tar, about the trunk of the tree, first putting a band of leather or thick cloth over which to tie the rope, will prevent the insect from ascending, and tend to indicate its presence and location for future treatment. Cases of ordinary infection can undoubtedly be cured if the above is carried out faithfully arid to the very letter, and by keeping such close watch over the trees that the reappearance of the bug .is at once fol- lowed by an application of the spray, be- fore any time has lapsed for breeding and spreading. In aggravated cases of infec- tion, where t,he bug has a strong hold upon the tree, topping, careful brush burning and hand scrubbing must be re- sorted to. But even in such cases the use of the spray at first would much simplify the work and lessen the danger of scatter- ing and spreading the scale bugs. It is highly necessary to success that all weeds in the vicinity of infected trees should be carefully gathered up and burned. For the red scale, July and August are the best months to spray in, as they hatch during May and June. Use thirty-five pounds of soap and three gallons coal oil to every one hundred gallons of water. If sprayed in September or October add five pounds of soap. The best months to spray for black scale are September and October. They hatch through July and August. Use •ty pounds soap and two and one-half ons coal oil to every one hundred gal- ions water. Thinning out ami cutting away all surplus v od will do inuoli to- wards relieving tl; -ees from black scalu. Care should be t .jn to strain the wash through tine wire cloth, otherwise frequent stops will be necessary to clear the spray nozzle. 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