The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1909-06-05
BuLLErIN on cIrRus FRUIrs.
Kind of Soil Suitable, Preparation
and tivation-Varieties of
Fruits Adapted TO Coast.

The following bulletin on citrus
fruits which was prepared by S. A.
Waschka, superintendent in charge of
the Texas experiment station at Bee
vile, should be of especial interest
and benefit to planters in this section
who contemplate planting oranges or
other citrus fruits:
This bulletin was prepared with a
view of meeting the heavy demands
made upon the superintendent and
the director of the station for infor-
nation concerning citrus fruit culture
in south and southwest Texas.
The citrus fruit industry is not yet
firmly established Great activity is
going on along the coast belt, from
Galveston and Houston to Browns
vile. The information herein con-
tanned is based upon the experience
of Mr.. Waschka at the Beeville sta
ton, together with the information
which he has gathered from other
sources. In some measure, the adj
vice herein given may be premature,
but it is believed that, on the whole.
Il will be of great profit and aid to
the great number of people just be-
ginning the industry.
For the last five years until the
cold spell in January of this year, the
coast belt has not been visited by
weather severe enough to test the
endurance of the citrus trees. In Jan
uary past, the temperature went to
freezing even at the coast, and down
as low as 20 to 40 degrees over most
of the citrus fruit belt That the
trees stood this temperature is a
most encouraging circumstance for
the development of the industry.
One of the most frequent inquiries
coming to the station relates to the
type of soils best adapted for the
growth of citrus trees. 1t may be
said that the citrus trees are appar-
emily not very fastidious as to the
tppe of soil best suited to them. and
this is especially true if the right
stock is chosen to work them on.
Still, there are certain soils upon
which we would not advise that they
be grown. Sticky, heavy soils should
be avoided for commercial groves.
These soils are fertile enough. but
they easily become dry and compact,
unless under irrigation; and also
they are more likely to become pud-
died or tamped and difficult to work.
Soils that are not properly drained
must, OF course, be avoided or soils
that have hard pan are unsuitable.
unless the hard pan is broken up so
that the roots of the soil may easily
penetrate it. Citrus trees are gen
orally surface feeders. but still pro-
vision must be made for the roots to
penetrate to such depth as will
firmly anchor the tree in the soil
The trees succeed best on well
drained, loose soils: prefera tiv per-
haps, on a sandy loan that gradually
changes into heavy loan, underlaid
by pliable Gay. eighteen inches or
more f1om the surface. Extremely
open, porous soils are not desirable.
A pure. sandy loan, with a CLAW sub
soil, is well suited. provided it is
properly enriched by the application
of fertilizers.
Prepara ton of the Land.
The land should be thoroughly pre-
pared as for ether crops. 1t should
be deeply plowed-if the rainfall is
low-and pIlverized by narrowing
and smoothing If sod land is to be
used. it is best to break it about three
tmes-say, three inches the first
time, followed by disc harrow, and
then followed by a lever or section
harrow. The secoEd piGwing may be
CARR ID five or si& inches desp: har-
rowed as in the first instance. In
semi-arid districts, the third blowing
should be as deep as practicable
say, seven to ten inches and har-
rowed as before. 1t is preferable of
course that the land Be prepared as
above before the trees are set out.
Planting the Trees.
The hole should be made large
enough to admit the roots without
cramping them and deeper than is ne
eessary for setting the trees Then
the hole should be filled in with
moist, surface loose soil to the depth
desired and tramped firmly before set
ting the tree. The tree should not be
set any deeper than it stood in the
nursery, but fully as deep. If there
are broken roots, they should be cut
off smooth. The top should be cut
back to about eighteen inches, but
care taken to leave plenty of buds
from which to make the future tree
Moist, surface, loose soil should be in
troduced by hand until the roots are
well covered and then tramp or pack
the soil firmly with the feet. This will
leave a small basin around the tree,
upon which should be poured a few
buckets of water. If water is used il
should be allowed to soak in COM
pletely before filling the basin with
additional soil When the trees are
received from the nursery they should
be Immediately unpacked, and heeled
in moist soil. The soil should be
firmly packed about the roots, and it
is better to 'grout' the roots before
heeling; that is, to dip them in soft,
sticky mud or clay, so that the root
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