The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-12-03

in quality and appearance until fruit
bearing becomes the established hab-
it of the tree. This is the case, to
some extent, with all cultivated fruits.
! The variation of the fruit on the
same tree in different years is doubt
less largely owing to the difference
in the seasons. Referring to this
subject in private letter member
of the State Pomological Committee
says; ''In regard to the variation of
the orange on the same trees from
year to year as to color, size, acidity,
ETC., the whole matter, in my opin-
ion, is due to season and culture, In
seasons of little rain with trees on
high and dry locations the fruit will
contain more saccharine matter, be
smaller in regard to size, and possess
a better flavor, than in seasons OF
abundant wet like the present. /
think it you observe the matter
closely you will find marked diff
ference in the size, acidity ard flavor
this year as compared to fruit grown
two years ago. In making our ex-
aminations of the fruits at the State
Far, last winter, we observed a
marked difference in the same fruits
OF the two seasons. This seems rea-
sonable to me but may strike others
differently. I have observed the
best fruit, all other things being con-
sidered, to be grown on only moder.
ately rich land, and in comparatively
dry seasons" ..~.., nf, -.
it would evidently be impossible
to give a distinctive name to the
fruit of a grove which, like Mr..
Mitchell's, had been propagated from
two hundred Seeding trees; there
would be in fact two hundred differ
ent varieties in the grove and its
fruit would have no uniformly dis
tinctiye characteristics. 1t lissevi-
dent that fruit of a particufar. grove
\ pr santion,S z sse-sss t'asssi1 u 3liiasrent
varieties; has aRTERsaon resemblance
and is often distinguished by the
name OF the grove or section where
it is produced. Trees OF, the same
stock upon pine and hammock land
vary greatly. We find. also, that
trees i'll the same soil, Of the same
variety, under different systems of
culture differ in quality and appear,
ance. We have seen that the dis
tinctive characteristics of a variety
are permanent and remain unchanged
under all circumstances, but at the
same time that variety acquires a
greater or less development accord
ing to the completeness of its nutri.
ton. From the above facts it is
clear that season, soil, location and
culture effect greatly the develop
ment of any given variety. Just
here mistake is often made. Many
argue that it argues little what vari.
ETY. they plant, provided they give it
the proper conditions of soil, location
and culture. Upon poor soil with
improper culture superior variety
may produce fruit Of an inferior
quality, inferior, perhaps, to a really
worthless fruit under more favorable
circumstances. But the superior va
riety possesses inherent capabilities
of development under proper condi.
tions which are entirely wanting in
the inferior sort. The relative mer-
its of different varieties of fruit can
not be tested by comparing speci-
mems from different localities, or that
have been produced by different
methods of culture, nor by com
parison of the qualities OF two or
more varieties produced in different
seasons. In order to put correct
value upop their merits they must be
grown in the same soil, under the
same treatment, and in the same sea-
son. If those persons who have
groves of inferior or Seeding fruit
had planted the best varieties, the
same effort now bestowed would pro-
duce fruit of far superior quality,
having amuch greatermonetary value.
did propose to consider, briefly,
the merits and characteristics OF some
of the different varieties of the cit
rus family, but have already exceeded
the limits of my essay. ) / will, per.
haps, have the opportunity of consid.
! ering this branch of the subject at
another time.
ARTHUR HI. MANvILLE,
Lake George, Fla.