18 



boxes of the sizes first named and get as much as fifty 

 per cent, more tlian to produce two boxes of tlie small- 

 er sizes. 



From practical experiments and careful observation 

 covering a number of years, we have reached the con- 

 clusion that it will be possible to grow larger sized fruit 

 without injuring the quality. 



PRUNING 



The Satsuma orange tree is naturally a dwarf and 

 must be treated as such. High heading should not 

 be practiced as it results in the ends of the branches 

 turning and growing toward the ground. When these 

 branches become older and heavily laden with fruit 

 they will be drawn nearer the ground, the fruit in- 

 jured and the branches split under the strain 

 of hard rains, winds and storms which we some- 

 times have near the coast. 



The Satsuma naturally puts out branches on the 

 inner jarts of the tree in more or less upright bunches, 

 several of which come close together. Often cross 

 branches appear. As the outer upright branches be- 

 come older they tend to grow away from the center of 

 the tree and the ends may, and perhaps will, later push 

 outward and downward toward the ground. There 

 are usually some small u])right branches on the lead- 

 ers. In this case a careful pruner will take off the end 

 of the leader, thereby throwing the growing material 

 to tlie smaller upright branches making them strong 

 and tending to keep the tree in a bunch3% stiff", upright 

 mass which is desirable. Even if the outward down 

 tending end of a branch does not show the presence of 

 a smoller upward tending branch, it is better to cut it 

 off", because there is almost sure to be either a dormant 

 or an adventitious bud which will show up and serve 

 the same purpose as the small upward branch. (See 

 Plate V, figs. 1 and 2 and Plate VI, fig. 1 for careful aiv' 

 careless pruning.) 



We do not have much practical experience with 

 cross branches and tlieli value as braces during heavy 

 winds and rains because most of the orange trees in 

 South Alabama are young. Such cross branches, in 

 addition to acting as an ordinary brace, often form na- 

 tural cross grafts which literally tie the main branches 

 into one, as shown in Plate IV, fig. 2. Of course, 

 some times a cross l^ranch may be ill formed and cause 

 rul)l)ing injury to other branches. In cases of this 

 kind, they should be removed at once. 



