Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-01-27
rsrtilisins Orange Trees.


Experiments that have been tried in
Los Angeles, Pasadena and in Governor
Stonemans orange grove in the San
Gabriel valley, clearly show that al.
though our soil may be immensely rich,
and well suited to orange culture. yet
the presence Of fine manure, mingled
with the soil beneath an orange tree,
adds greatly to the vigor and growth Of
the tree, and increases the size of the
fruit without increasing the number Of
oranges.
As result of careful observation in
Los Angeles county, We have observed
that in many orchards some part of the
land was in sand, some in stiff land, and
some portion in rich dark gravel and
vegetable mold. The difference in
growth without fertilization was remark.
able. The gravelly loan produced the
largest tree, the sand land the next
largest, and the hard, stiff, clayey soil
the smallest growth.
In the product Of fruit the difference
in young trees was noticeable. The
trees in the dark soil grew lusty and
darkly green, with fine, large fruit, but
not very numerous. The sandy land
had more fruit but smaller in size, while
the trees of the same age in hard. stiff
land were paler in color but loaded with
small fruit, tart and unstable. These
trees in clay have overborne and ex.
haussed themselves, and are destined
soon to die. After these are dead and
gone the trees on the rich portion Of the
land will pour out annually their golden
crops Of large and luscious fruits for .
century. These observations show clear.
ly that fertilizers are invaluable in the
production Of fine oranges. The effect
Of sheep manure and dried blood on the
growth and fruit Of the orange tree Is
remarkably fine. By the use Of these
manures the trees on hard soil can be
stimulated and made to produce fine,
large fruit. These manures act very
promptly, but their effect wears away
after few years, when they should be
supplemented by slowly working fertil.
izers that last for twenty years. Such
fertilizers as crushed bones. leather
scraps from shoe factories, wooden rags,
buried straw aud iron filings will slowly
change to the properties that the tree
will absorb and utilize.
On the fruit farm Of Mr.. A. o. Porter.
Of Pasadena, q portion Of his land was q
kind Of hardpan, a combination Of clay,
iron and gravel, which when dry is al
most as dense as rock. To make the
holes for the trees was.almost like quar-.
rying rock, and required heavy ex-
pense to make them. Into these sheep
manure was thrown and left exposed to
a heavy Winter rainfall. which filed the
holes with water that stood in them as
in kettle. The effect was remarkable.
In the Summer the orange trees
were planted and have grown well
and are now bearing noble fruit.
Without this or some other quick
acting fertilizer it would have been
worse than useless to have planted these
trees, Such examples are Of great value
to persons who are planting orange
orchards, and TO those who have. young
orchards just coming to fruitage. 1t
shows that fertilizers can be proftably
used on orange groves. and where there
are certain elements lacking in the soil
should be used freely and promptly.
There are thousands of orange trees in
this part of the country that have 1000
worthless little oranges on them apiece,
that are about useless. while il fer.
tilisers had been used instead of the
1000 miserable oranges. there would
have been robust tree with 500 hand
some oranges that wouldhavs been worth
four times the crop Of little pale oranges
that attempted to get subsistence from
half starved tree.
The irresistible conclusion is obtained
from careful observation that the orange
tree hourishes best and most profitably
by fertilization, and that all our pale
colored trees, with small, numerous and
pale colorsd fruit, need fertilixing
promptly and intelligently. 1t is to be
hoped that these views will prevail and
the day Of small oranges be done away.
We should have the best and most size.
able fruit and none other. There is no
use in raising oranges that run less than
220 on to $50 per box. 1t is perfectly
certain that the matter can be controlled
by intelligent cultivation and it is for
the interest of all orange growers to
give attention to the subject