The Hawaiian gazette., 1877-04-18
Orange and Lemon Culture.

Few people in this valley (says the San Jose
Mercury have the least idea that oranges and
lemons can be grown here, and with success A
representative OF the Mercury has recently visit
ed the fine place Of Mr.. ". II. Rogers, at Los
Gatos. and while there made such personal in
designations aud inquiries as to leave no doubt
that what be has undertaken as an experiment
will not only prove valuable investment. but
demonstrate that Santa Cara valley can produce
these Semi-trOpical fruits with equal the perfec-
ton and certainly that can be done in the more
southern sections OF the State Four years ago
Mr. Rogers CHANGED to he in Los Angeles. and
while there purchased two or three hundred Of
two aud three year old lemon and orange trees
for himself. and also some for DR.. McMurtry, ut
Los GatoS. They set them ont in February and
March, though subsequently learned that those
planted IN April grew more vigorously on ac-
count OF the weather beng warmer and more
suitable for their nouushment; the only trouble
10 plsnting in that mOnit is owing 20 the fact
that The trees require little more care by shad-
ing for week or so, to prevent the leaves from
falling of before the roots have set. From ex-
perimenis which these gentlemen have made.
whose experieuce-eSpensiv in some cases
Others may profit by, We learn the following in
relation TO the planting of lemon and orange
trees, their care, yield, etc:
Though they viii grow upon any soil in this
extraordinarily The bes; in the foothills in
che respect, on account of the climate being
somewhat warmer than in the centre OF the val
le!-their home is in sandy SOIL rather damp
than otherwise. such as for instance the Willows
section. IL their Planting, no barn manure
should be used, SIS the heat of the same Is rather
feyerish than natural warmth, and will iuvaria-
bly, kill the plants Bone manure is good for
han, - fl..l
materially the growth Of the trees if thrown in
with the dirt IN setting them ont. The trees
should never be planted deeper than they origin
ally grew. Dig the PIT deep enough so that with
the orange trees the isp-rOot will grow down
straight The roots Of the lemon trees are more
spreading, yet they also should never be set out
deeper than the original plant. Lemons will
grow best In little Settsr soil than the oranges
require Though Messrs Rogers and McMurtry
planted their first trees about twelve feet apart
each way, they considered them too close for
thrift and subsequent paintings of the trees have
demonstrated the truth OF their theory, that on
account Of the properties OF the soil which the
trees require, they will grow best if planted, say
sixteen feet apart. The trees should not be
iraosplanted at less than four years OF age. The
larger the tree the better. They should he wa
tered about once S week daring the dry season.
~ NALACA AAcs LGc1 " GSEe aH1AchcE- as ENl-
dence of the bardihood of these trees, Mr. Rog-
ers states that owing TO the past cold winter
which they have had il Los Gatos-the coolest
IN years, the thermometer having gone IS low as
2s'-a heHOirope in his tront yard bad its leaves
completely frozen Of, while on his lemon trees,
blossoms partly out were not injured, small lem
ous safely passed the ordeal. and ripe lemons
upon the same trees did not suffer 70 The least.
The greatest care IN the enlture of orange and
lemon trees must De not to plant them in the
neighbOrhood Of the e1czlyptus the Lombard
poplar, and other tees Of Ike vigorous growth.
for The latte. viii invariably thrive while robbing
the former Of the properties of the soil required
for even tolerable existence.
The peculiar growth of these trees is sueh
that scarcely more picturesque appearance in
shrubbery can be conceived than they affori
Beng planted st The best period, which. as
before sad. Is April, il viii be two to three
years before tSey begin bearing, thoagh they
retain their foliage lkr01ghOot the season, and
are thus especially desirsble for sfade trees. If
nothing more Those who hare teeE through
the Southern States can not fail to hare noticed
the abundance Of especially orange trees upon
The hcest residence grounds, where they z.e
so1ght.equaily with :he palm magnoiis. and oibers
Of the class for their fruit and beautiful ragauce
Three-fourths OF the blossoms viii come out
upon the trees in April and May. th0agh strzg-
cling blossoms will cootinus coming all through
the sumner mouths. and in fact during the year
aroand. The fruit begins ripenIng the following
November, confusing until March.
Dunng every month Of the past year Mr..
Rogefs has picked rps lemons from of his trees.
A singular feature Of the experience of the two
geahens1 to whom We refer. and which they
can no: solve, Is that shiie the lemon trees Of
Mr. Rogers have been bearing for Two years Gone
small tree the pass season having produced over
lo9 Inc leDons), be has not. until the present
spring. had eEen blossoms upon his orange trees
Ehiie DR. AeAartTy has bad abundance Of oranges
and no lemons The present season both gen
tenen viii raise each kind # present indications
are borne out
As 10 the time Intervening between the
planting Of The trees and Their frDiiage. it viii
depend soneEhat ul,on the age Of the trees
EesG tfansplanted. Orange trees Usually bear in
ssFen 70 nine years from the planting Of the
seed, and lemon tees one and half to tEo