The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-10-20
Is Deep Flowing Essential III the
Orange or Lemon Orchard.

Is D6tp L UNIlS. AA'ONL
Orange or Lemon Orchard.
From the Press AMI Horticultural.
The above questions are conse-
quently arising IN my mind, and the
more discuss them, and the more ex-
tended and critical become my OBJ
servations, the more deeply l become
impressed that radical and almost
fatal errors are being committed IN
the non physiological and otherwise
unnatural methods generally pursued
in the treatment OF our citrus or
chards. Deep blowing is unquestion-
ably greatly advantageous in grain
and vegetable farming, from the
simple fact of surface exhaustion OF
the soil by The constant feeding oi
the surface roots OF the grain and
vegetables, and the deep blowing in
this case becomes essential in order
to throw up virgin soil rich in plant
food, to replace the already exhaust
ed surface soil. But l fail to see how
this rule can apply with equal, or
even with any appreclable force TO a
fruit orchard, where the so-called
surface roots are mary inches below
the surface, and agreeable to a har-
monious functional action, seek po-
sition deep down of undisturbed,
quiet, drawing; therefore, their nu-
triment from soils that must be IN
vaded without a serious functional
arrangement of the roots occupying
the same.
1t is plain to be seen that to
pillow the soil below the essential
surface roots is effectually destroy
ing them. Now, the question arises,
are these so-called surface roots in
dispensable to the best welfare OF
the tree? If SO, why destroy them
by deep blowing The answer comes
Immediately, that the tree will read
lily put out new ones in their place.
But does the thought ever occur to
the individual how much valuable
vitality Is, Therefore, forever sacrificed
in this unatural waste OF root service!
And, moreover, why does the tree
deem it Sc. essential to healthy and
vigorous condition, TO Immediately
set about repairing the damages SO
inflicted? Again, has actual demon
STATIONS proven that deep blowing,
and, consequently, root destruction,
are at all necessary, or in the east,
contribute to a more rapid growth
and development Of the citrus tree
On the contrary, may it not be more
than surmised that constantly pursu'
ing this practice from year to year,
at least compelling the tree TO live as
best it can without the aid of these
delicate fbrous appendages, their
function to a great, extent, no doubt,
being to absorb and appropriate
the gases Of the atmosphere, as one
and perhaps the radical cause OF the
early diseased condition and decline
OF too many OF of the oldest orchards
in and about Los Angeles. And es-
pecially il We take into account in
connection with this treatment, the
common practice OF Utterly submerg-
ing the roots of the tree every two OF
three weeks with cold water, usually
thereby so reducing the temperature
OF the surface soil, even, that where
these surface roots ramifying the
same, the circulation of the sap would
be so seriously abridged, that growth
ceases at once, and not until the
growing temperature is again res,or-
ed by solar heat, does it resume its
spasmodic growth. Nationally con-
sidered, this deep orchard blowing,
and, consequently, constant root
pruning, with the adjunct OF BIZ
monthly submergence and its con.
comitants OF cold and almost lite
less soil, believe TO be most egreg-
ious popular falacies. l have heard
no reasonable argument to justify
this practice. 1t seems to have been
Numbered into, without the exercise
OF thought or reason. n philosopbi
cal as well as a physiological view
OF the subject would suggest the cul-
tivatiou OF the soil to the depth OF the
surface roots and 10 further. And
why? Because, should the watering
ana other treatment develop roots,
say within All inch of the surface,
they must be regarded as there for a
c,-.,n;ol ,,nr,oac., onJ traotar accord l.