page 56

Bursting of Oranges.

O. N. San ford, of El Cajon, San Diego, writes under date of November 18: "About a month ago I noticed a young orange tree which was bearing for its first crop a few oranges; the tree looked as though it needed water; I gave it a heavy irrigation; in about a week one of the oranges burst open and I came to the conclusion given by you in the October number of the Horticultu-Rist—that the bursting was caused by the water."

A Correspondent of the Colton Semi-Tropic writing from Riverside says that thousands of limes are going to waste at that place. The lime crop is very light this year, and with proper management ought to be marketed at a living price.

Large oranges are being noticed by our exchanges. Size can be compared much more readily than quality. The latter is of the most importance. The largest yet reported is a Navel orange, 13 2/3 inches in circumference, in C. W. Brown's orchard at Santa Ana. The Times is our authority.

L. H. Titus has discovered a remedy for the red scale bug which is said to be effectual. A strong suds from the scrapings from a soap factory, with which is mixed a little blue vitriol, is thrown by a force pump in a spray through the tree.

On File.—Communications from J. R. of Fresno, S. B., of San Buenaventura and J. H. S., of Los Angeles, are received too late for this issue. But will appear next month.

Ellwood Cooper, of Santa Barbara, has returned from an extended visit East.

With the December number of the California Horticulturist, published at San Francisco by J. H. Carmany & Co., comes the announcement that with the January number, Chas. H. Shinn, of Niles, Alameda County, whom our readers will recognize as an occasional correspondent, assumes editoral control. Mr. Shinn is an able and vigorous writer, and we welcome him to the new field of labor—a field, as all editors know, that is strewn with flowers and choice fruits, with neither thorns, brambles, Canada thistles, nuggets nor diamonds to mar his happiness. Brother Shinn, accept our condolence.