to fall. Then 100 lbs. weight per tree of old, moist cow-dung of a reddish brown colour is mixed with the soil, and the roots covered up and watered heavily if rain does not fall soon. This causes the trees to burst into bloom and fresh growth; thereafter the soil is kept moist till the fruit is gathered.

The same operation carried out in December brings ripe fruit during December, January, and February.

Suckers from below the graft must be cleared out, and weakly or decayed branches only cut out. Excessive pruning must be avoided, as it tends to cause the trees to "run to wood," and prevents flowering.

Fruit continues to attain full development during a month on each "break" of trees that has been started into growth together,. and it is picked over at intervals of a few days.

A faint trace of yellow in the skin of the fruit indicates maturity. When fresh from the tree this fruit has a delightful rich piquancy of flavour that is to a great extent lost by being packed up for a few weeks, but the fruit remains in good condition two months, if not closely packed. No special curing is given, unless the fruit has been gathered unripe; in that case close packing, with soft hay in a box is sufficient. Such fruit is always inferior. In packing, 30 to 40 lbs. weight of oranges are placed in very slim baskets without any packing, and the lid tied down. None of the fruit is shipped as merchandise.

The trees are planted about 12 feet apart each way.

Seeds of Citrus medica, a large coarse citron of vigorous habit, are sown, and when the stocks are two or three years old, budding is effected. The form of budding used is peculiar, and I think advantageous in unskilled hands. No transverse cut is made in the bark; having made the vertical cut, the operator bends the stems gently towards the side having the cut. This causes the cut to gape open, and the bud having been inserted, the stock is released, and springs up, closing in the shield of the bud. A bandage consisting of a strip of banana stem is then applied. I think the want of the cross cut saves the gumming, that ensues if the cut is made too deep. Occasionally the sweet lime, Citrus limetta, is used as a stock, and it is believed by some to ensure more sweetness in the fruit. I have not proved this, and do not think it can affect the degree of sweetness.

The best varieties are invariably budded. Seedlings take so long to bear fruit as to be useless in practical fruit-growing.

The orchards generally measure from 5 to 10 acres.

The trees begin to bear at 3 years from the bud, carry the heavi

est crops between the 6th and 10th year, and after the 15th year rapidly decay.

An important insect enemy is the caterpillar of Erythro papilio, which eats up the foliage during June-July. Hand-picking is the chief remedy employed. An undetermined wood-boring insect attacks the trees as soon as decay sets in, and is commonly supposed to be a cause of decay. I think it is rather a sign of decay. Hot tar poured into its holes kills the insect, but does not arrest decay when far advanced. If there is any sound wood left, it is advisable to cut back severely, but trees so treated do not fruit for two or three years after the operation.

It is doubtful whether any insects are beneficial, but the entomo.logy of Indian fruit culture is as yet but fragmentary.

Lemons.-Lemons are not exported. The large Citron can be produced in quantity very cheaply, but, except by dyers for the acid, it is little used, and brings a very low price.

*

Note. The latest edition of my own book is the fullest account available, but that is superseded by this report, as far as oranges and lemons are concerned.

B.-FIGS.

Figs are not dried in India to any considerable extent, as the local consumption absorbs the supply.

Varieties of figs are not named in India except with the name of the village they come from, which is not distinctive. The variety widely cultivated in the Deccan is inverted-conical, green at the stalk, and gradually deepening to brown at the broad end; it has alternating stripes of green and brown, and good examples weigh 7 lb.

Village of Khed Shivapore, 14 miles south of Poona, which city stands in North Latitude 18° 28', East Longitude 74° 10′, altitude of Khed Shivapore about 2,200 feet. Exposure to sun, full. Land of the orchards is nearly level, but the orchards are on the slope of a range of hills of 3,500 feet altitude. The altitude of the plantation is 2,200 feet.

The soil is a poor calcareous loam, sub-soil being marl, a mixture of lime and clay on disintegrated trap.

The temperature averages about 75 degrees; minimum, 48 degrees; maximum, 100 degrees. The village is shut in on the north, east, and west by hills, which keep out hot winds.

The rainfall is about 50 inches, falling chiefly from June to

* Since this was written, Dr. Bonavia's “Cultivated Oranges and Lemons, &c., of India and Ceylon" has been published.

October. The falling of rain sets the trees growing, and determines the ripening of fruit.

The irrigation is from wells, 2 inches per month from end of October till the fruit is ripe. Cultivators do not usually make special efforts to get sweet fruit, but the small quantity of water given has that effect.

The mode of cultivation is ploughing 4 inches or hoeing at end of rainy season.

The fertilizers used are village sweepings, 50 lbs., well decayed, per tree, applied after the crop is gathered.

After the tree has been caused to send up 5-7 branches from near the base by shortening the shoots sent out by the cutting, little, if any, pruning is given; broken branches are cut out, and such as have gone higher than a man can reach with the hand, have the points taken off, and are cut out to the base after all the fruit has been gathered; but the less pruning that is necessary, the better. A few are grown as standards, the branches proceeding from the central stem at a height of 6 feet and spreading out horizontally. The picking is done when the fruit is full grown, and shows a slight yellowing of the stalk. Early in the morning is preferred, because, if protected from the sun, fruit so picked retains a delicious coolness. For local use, each fig is wrapped up in a leaf when it has attained this stage, to protect it from birds, and is left on the tree a week longer. This improves the quality greatly, but carriage to a distance is impracticable in such a case. No boxing or curing

is done in India.

The trees are planted 10 to 12 feet apart. Propagation is effected by means of cuttings of 1-year-old wood planted in a shady bed in February.

The orchards are about 2 to 3 acres in extent only, because the situation on a hill slope does not admit of large level spaces fit for irrigation.

The trees live 15 years; are fruitful during about 12.

The red spider is a serious enemy. No futile attempts are made against it by the cultivators; they think sacrifices to idols effectual. The subject of fig cultivation has not yet been worked out.

I have never sent cuttings of figs so far as America, but I think that if cut in February, packed in moist sand in a tin box, and sent by post a few would survive the journey.

The latest edition of my book "Gardening in India" gives the fullest account available, but it is not as full regarding figs as this report.

Poona, 1890.

G. M. WOODROW.

JY. TIMBER MARKET.

STATEMENT OF AVERAGE SELLING RATES FOR TIMBER AND BAMBOOS FOR THE QUARTER ENDING 31ST DECEMBER, 1890.

SALE OF ANDAMAN PADOUK IN LONDON.

LAST month the brokers succeeded without difficulty in disposing of the lots offered in catalogue for absolute sale at fair prices, but were not so fortunate with the reserved portion, which no one in the room seemed inclined to entertain; this was accordingly withdrawn. We do not hear of much inquiry at present, though there seems to be a fair prospect of its being increasingly used.

Ex Harrington @ Andaman Islands.

Without Reserve, Lots 192 to 213.

221 15 pks. East India Padouk 6 in. 195 3/8 Shadbolt.