The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-04-02

SiFSH SAOSC dGGcllIIOU TO Jno history
Of the citrus family in different parts
of the world.
The article so clearly endorses the
views held by myself and others on
the subject of grating or budding.
and so particularly emphasizes the
two pruning systems which l have
long since adopted and contended
for, that | have read with particular
interest all the facts as given in the
extract. Believing the extract will
prove as interesting and as profitable
to others as to myself, l herewith
submit it entire, as taken from page
All, on Sardinia:
although there was no evidence
OF Winter warmth at or Immediately
around Oristano, an excursion to the
orange groves at Miles showed me
that all that was wanting was protec-
tion from the north.
Miles is situated at the foot of a
mountain spur running east and west,
about twelve miles northwest of Or
iStano, and looks due south. This
orange wood or orchard, two miles
in length by half a mile in width. has
been celebrated for ages, and has
supplied all Sardinia with oranges.
1t belongs principally to the Marquis
Of Boyle, a Sandman nobleman. A
never-tailing rivulet of mountain
water runs through, and enables the
cultivator to put the entire orchard
under water every fortnight during
the Summer. If an orange tree is to
produce good fruit it must be watered
thoroughly during Summer at least
twice month (Here is challenge
TO my esteemed friend, DA Cougar,
of Pasadena.)
Il spent a day in.-cthis
s',,2. grove, and and other-onls eisi sle ..
1ney are worthy old trees, a
hundred years or more, Judging from
the diameter of the bole, one, two, or
even three feet" q suppose the
author has reference to the outer di
ameter of the forks of the trees
"They are not beautiful trees like
those at Milianch, in Algeria, for
they are generally allowed to divide
into two or three branches. two or
three feet from the ground These
large branches run up fifteen to
twenty feet, and form a canopy of
fruit bearing branchlets, which unite
with those of the surrounding trees,
! and form a complete shade on the
ground-indeed, moss was growing
on it in many places. The impression
on the beholder is that the trees are
too numerous, but | was told that
the experience ofcenturies has proved
that this is the best plan to grow
them, in order to keep the ground
cool and moist during the fierce glare
of the Summers SUM-
"No manure is ever used, only
water. The soil is a deep alluvial
one, and the situation is ten miles
from the sea. g
"The head cultivator told me that
orange trees raised from seed were
peculiarly liable to die, just as they
had become good bearing trees, of a
disease called "secco; ~ the small
branches at first, and then the larger
ones, dry up and wither, and in a few
years the entire tree dies. He
showed me, among the scores of
trees iutermingled, those that were
dying without the trace of grating,
whereas those that bore the trace Of
the graft near them were sound and
healthy. Now, he said, he never
planted other than the grated trees.
I ate number Of oranges gathered
here, and found them very good
The orange tree finds here the tropi-
cal heat that suits its constlt ution,
whilst the mountains behind shelter
it from the north winds which pre-
vent its growing in most regions Of
Sardinia.
Now, Mr.. Editor, in the foregoing
statements are embraced facts that at
least should give us abundance oi
food for thought, and should serve tc
set at rest the fear that grating oil
budding shortens the life OF the or
ange tree; that high pruning is ad
vantageous, heavy manuring advise
Continued on page 1853.