CULTIVATION OF THE ORANGE.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 579, 27 September 1880, Page 2

CULTIVATION OF THE ORANGE.

Probably no cultivated fruit surpasses the orange as a remunerative crop. Certain orange grounds in New South Wales are known to afford an annual return of over £SOO per acre. It is stated that one tree has yielded 300 dozen per annum for over 20 years. No better proof of its remunerative character can be required than the fact of its culture extending every year, In this colony good oranges and lemons have been produced for many years in the Auckland district, although no attention has been paid to the selection of sorts or to special culture. The best soilfor the orange is that produced by the decomposition of basaltic rocks, although a friable, rather sandy loan is almost as good. The ground should be carefully prepared, and,' if necessary, thoroughly drained. Shelter from high winds iB absolutely requisite. This could be secured by planting evergreen trees round the enclosure. There are several kinds, native and introduced, which could be procured at low rates and in any quantity. An essential point is the selection of suitable kinds; these should be worked on stocks of the Seville orange—one year old, if they can be procured. They; should be kept in beds for one or two years before planting out, the surface of the soil being covered with moss in. dry weather. After permanent planting, all the cultivation required is to keep the surface free from weeds, and mulch with loose stable manure or some substitute, which should be forked in after tho fruit is gathered, and to remove superflous shoots, so as to admit a, free circulation of air to the centre of the tree. Should the black blight make its appearance, the plant must be dressed with a mixture of soft soap and kerosene, or with some other preparation used for that purpose. There are numerous localities in which not only the orange but the lemon, lime citron, and shaddock could be advantageously cultivated. An orange orchard would come into bearing eight or ten years-after planting; the trees should nob be allowed to bear when too young. After 'the tenth year each; tree is supposed tobear from 1000 to 1(300 oranges. About lOO'tr'ees may be planted to the acre, but the number would 'vary-according to the mode of growtn adopted,.and in a lesser

dej(ree>^jieiihd{Beie(il;ei,Jßtimating ; the aiinukljvaliie;pMhe -prodlice at the low rate a return of £6O anaqr^;|Butaß:vre;Karasaid ; that 1000 orangeflplr tree low return, : the aiihualivalue per a'ore;mav be simply estimated fit £IOO.-Thos;;;Ejek, Wellington,