20 



III the spring of 1917, some growers were late getting 

 the young trees pruned. Many died back from the 

 effects of the freezes resulting in serious setbacks from 

 insect injury. Even though young trees do not show 

 much dying back, it is well to cut them back the second 

 year if they show a tendency to head too high. This 

 will encourage several branches to put out from near 

 one j)oint which will give a more desirably shaped 

 tree, and one in which natural grafts are more likely 

 to appear. 



When Citrus trifoliata stock is used, more or less 

 Citrus trifoliata sprouts will continue to come until 

 the trees grow older. Tlie number of such sprouts is 

 largely determined by the pruning methods practiced. 

 If the pruner leaves stubs, each stub will put out a 

 number of shoots which will increase the number each 

 year. But if the sprouts are cut close up to the stock 

 with a smooth pruning instrument, they will soon cease 

 to appear. The Citrus trifoliata sprout is a rapid 

 grower and that means a heavy feeder as well. The 

 sprouts sometimes reaching four to ten feet and one- 

 quarter to three-quarters of an inch in diameter in a 

 single year. Three or four sprouts may appear. It is, 

 therefore, important to prevent these useless sprouts 

 from receiving plant food which the orange tree should 

 receive. 



VARIETIES 



Since the l)eginning of citrus fruit culture in the 

 Gulf Coast section of Ala]>ama, the question is often 

 asked, "Why confine ourselves to growing Satsumas 

 when we can grow other varieties of citrus fruits?" 

 We take this opportunity to answer this question. 

 There is no citrus fruit better adapted to our climate 

 and soil conditions than the Satsuma. For this rea- 

 son, we should coniuie ourselves to this particular va- 

 riety and use every effort to improve its c[uality, there- 

 by establishing this fruit on the market, rather than 

 to divide our efforts witli probably a minimum of suc- 

 cess in growing a number of varieties. 



The Washington Navel orange has been planted by 

 a number of growers in South Alabama with fairly 

 good success and it must be admitted that the quality 

 of the fruit is e([ually as good as the California Navel. 

 We find that the Washington Navel survived the low 

 temperature in the winter of 1917 just as well as the 

 Satsuma, However, we have made this observation, 



