The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1897-12-16
Crowding the Orange

Crowding the orange
Prof, Milton D. Whitney of the division
of soils Of the department of agriculture,
recently visited Southern California,
where he made a careful study of our
soils. He is reported to have said that
he was amazed at the fertility. depth
and ability of our soils to hold the moist
ure. This was telegraphed as discov-
cry, though the same facts have been
stated by DR.. Hilgard for many years.
The slight rainfall prevents washing out
the fertile elemnts of the soil, while its
great depths and make up permit the
moisture to rise from great depths. Both
of these facts, extreme fertility and
abundant moisture, even with slight
rainfall are greatly to the advantage of
the agriculturists of this favored re-
gion.
But these advantages may bring
evils unless our tillers of the soil are on
their guard. We all remember how in
toxicated the wheat growers of the
northwestern states We're at first. They
produced immense crops on the rich vir-
gin soils and seemed utterly oblivious
to the fact of soil exhaustion. Thus
return of fertilizer to the soil, until now
the production is much less than at first
Are not our Southern California orch
ardists in danger of doing the same
thing? They set the citrus fruit trees
very close together-often 100 trees to
the acre. These trees are expected, and
usually do, produce immense crops each
year. The fruit grower is accustomed
to see this great annual product ana
thinks little of the great strain upon his
soil, and the immense draft upon the
elements of fertility. Itbehooves all our
orchardsts to be watchful before their
orchards are in the condition of the Min
nesota and Dakota wheat fields. The
large fruitage of the citrus orchards will
surely deplete the soil of it's fertility,
unless the grower looks we'll to the mat
ter of maintaining that fertility. The
very fact of the great richness Of our
soils makes the danger all the more im-
minent.
Perhaps there is no single topic that
will come before the farmers club insti-
tute next month that is more important
than this one. Three papers will be
presented, one by DR.. Hilgard himself,
and the discussion following will GER
tainly be most interesting and valuable.
Every orchardist in Southern Califor-
mia should be alert to gain all possible
information that will aid him in this line.
There is still another danger which
confronts our citrus fruit producers.
The soil has been 80 rich and productive
that our orchardists have come to expect
q maximum crop each year. The orch
ard must show trees loaded down with
the finest oranges each season. If the
crop is short, even after several seasons
of prodigious crops, the orchardist is
dissatisfied, and complains that his fruit
drops or fails to set. In the east it is
often expected that each alternate crop
will be light. Is 1T not possible that an
occasional failure, or partial failure, i'll
the citrus orchards may not always be
an unmixed evil, especially if great at
tention is not paid to keeping up the fer
tility of the orchard? If an orchard
drops some of it's fruit, and thus has it's
vigor restored, it may be money in the
growers pocket in the long run. l was
talking with an old experienced grower
from Florida few days since. He said
that there far fewer trees were set to the
acre than here; that much money was
expended for fertilizers, and that it was
not expected that the orchards would
bear full crops each season. Surely these
are questions that our clubs should con-
sider If over-cropping and under ma
nuring are being practiced to the detri-
ment Of our groves and their future
fruitfulness, we cannot know it too soon.
Barnyard Manure in Orange Orchards
At almost every Farmers institute the
matter of using barnyard manure as a
fertilizer in the orange orchards comes
up for discussion. At Claremont in the
club meetings, it finds very able and
hearty advocates. Some growers say
that, while 1t develops tree growth, it
does not stimulate fruit production. !
have two very graphic illustrations of
the benefit which may be hoped from a
generous use of this fertilizer. Mr..
Davenport on the Kingsley tract, mid
way between Claremont and Pomona.
has used great quantities of barnyard
manure In his orchard, so much so that
it is remarked upon by all his neighbors
His orchard, the present season, is bear
ing tremendous crop, and he tells me
that this year is no exception. I am told
that for several years he has excelled his
neighbors in the magnitude of his pro-
duction per acre. Another orchard where
stable manure is applied ad libtum is
that Of MFR. Thompson, northeast OF
Duarte. have never seen this fertilizer
used more freely than have seen it APP
Piled in Mr.. Thompson's orchard Mr.
Thompson, like Mr.. Davenport, pro-
duces immense crops of the very finest
oranges OF course, two swallows do not
make summer, but these examples are
surely suggestive, and coupled with the
favorable experience east, may wisely
lead to experiments at least In this direc-
tion. Of course, the difficulty of secur-
Ing large quantities of this fertilizer
stands in the way of its very extensive
use. Where 1t can be secured it NAV wei
be tried.