The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-06-05


has perfect orange color, rather
acid, but very aromatic and is an ex-
( cellent relish The Nagami bears
fruit mostly in clusters and when cut
with leaves attached forms a very
attractive decoration. Both varieties
make excellent preserves, and, wher-
ever known. are in great demand For
market it is usually packed in quart
baskets and Grated like Strawberries
or tomatoes The trees are dwarfed,
if, in fact, tney may be considered
trees, attaining a growth from eight
/ to twelve feet in height. and two
thirds this measurement across the
head. They are very young and pro-
4, life bearers, setting crop the first
year after planting; comparing favor
ably in this respect with the Satsuma
oranges; its hardness being increased
by using trifoliata stock to bud on.
The low, dwarfish heads of the tree
! provide a great deal of protection to
the trunk.
CuItivating the Citrus Grove.
One of the most important features
of success is taking proper care Of
the trees by thorough cultivation
and conservation of the soil moisture
in dry climates or dry periods, and in
providing proper drainage in wet
weather. Proper cultivation at the
proper time is otter equal to irriga-
ton; in fact, 1t is at times better, be-
cause if irrigation is not properly con-
Quoted it may work positive injury.
Cultivation should be followed after
each rain or after each irrigation, If
this be practiced. The ground should
be properly worked with harrow, or,
if need be, with cultivator after ev-
ery rain, in case the locality is one
where the conservation of moisture is
an important consideration. In fact,
in such localities, it is good practice
to keep the cultiyator or harrow going
during the dry season, say to the mid
die of September, after which cultiva-
ton should cease, in order that the
growth may be checked and the wood
hardened for the winter Very deep
blowing is not advisable after the
tree begins to grow in the spring, but
a pillow may be used TO advantage at
some distance from the tree, and at
some greater depth than shallow Gull
tiyators give The pillow may be used
even in December but great care
should be taken not to tear up the
roots of the tree. Weeds of any kind
should not be allowed TO grow in the
orchard at any time.
Cover Crops.
leguminous cover crop is usual
ly an important factor. even though
the land is rich in nitrogen, humus
and other plant food. One may use
as cover crops either nitrogen con-
sumers or nitrogen collectors. The
former comprises oats, rye and gras-
ses of various kinds, and should be
avoided. The nitrogen collectors are
legumes, such as: Velvet beans, cow
peas, burr clover, alfalfa and peas
and should be used We have tested
two varieties of cowpeas at this sta
ton with very satisfactory results;
even on ground that seemed quite fer
tile Such crops make the soil loose
and mellow, and prevent surface
washing during rainy seasons, and at
the same time regulate the moisture
of the soil. We plant cowpeas in rows
about three feet apart and cultivate
them shallow as long as the vines
will permit, never planting nearer
than five feet from the trees, leaving
this space for the proper cultivation
of the trees. The pea vines should
never be allowed to encroach on this
space. This can be controlled by re-
versing the direction in which the
vines grow; which, of course, must be
done by hand. 1t is best to plant peas
early in the spring and when the first
pods are ripe, cut up the crop and
soil with disc harrow. The two va
rieties named are the Whippoorwill
and the Iron cOwpea. The former is
well known and needs no description
The latter is a trifie smaller than the
WhippoOrwill, and much better as a
table pea. 1t is a very vigorous
grower and makes more vine than
any other variety known to the wri-
ter. They are not quite as early as
the Whippoorwill, but are quite pro-
life
Protecting Trunks of Citrus Trees.
It is very essential to bank around
the trees for winter, in order that a
portion of the trunk may be pre-
served in case of a severe freeze.
Should the trees get winter killed they
should be cut back in the spring as
far as they have been frozen, leaving
the healthy wood to produce sprouts
and make another tree, which they
will do in two or three years. These
mounds of earth should be removed
as soon as all danger of a severe
freeze is past-say about the first of
March. In the gulf coast section of
Texas, the trees may, as a rule, be
left unprotected until about the first
of December Nothing but clean earth
should be used in banking, and a con-
siderable portion of the tops should
be left exposed
Pruning.
Citrus trees require less pruning
than any other group of fruit trees
At the time of planting it is best to