394 THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



Pruning. 



I find that some orchardists use the i)runing shears very sparingly, 

 if at all, claiming nature is her own best guide in the shaping and care 

 of a tree in this regard. She endeavors with all her energy to make 

 the most of the conditions into which ignorance or poor management has 

 forced her. It is particularly distressing to see her thus struggling 

 blindly with no intelligent hand put forth to direct or assist her. 



This question, however, is better understood now than it was a few 

 years ago. Experience has taught many lessons to the observing citrus 

 grower. The novice in the business, of course, would realize that a 

 tree should be kept clean of dead wood and suckers, but many old-time 

 growers, if we are to judge from the appearance of some orchards, 

 do not altogether observe this fundamental law. I do not believe it 

 possible to grow the best fruit where the tree is not shorn of this 

 material. 



The tree should be opened so that free circulation of air can pass 

 through it and under the lower limbs. The foliage of some varieties is 

 inclined to grow thick and heavy. By opening the trees to the air 

 and lifting from the ground the drooping branches, the quality of the 

 fruit may be greatly raised and thus less liability to gum disease. 

 Soil and climatic conditions must, however, control or regulate this to 

 some extent. I am confident, however, that in most orchards satis- 

 factory results can be secured by occasional vigorous pruning. There 

 may be reasons for not doing this in certain sections, but I am 

 persuaded that most orchards, even in such districts, would be vastly 

 improved by judicious use of the pruning shears. Pruning must be 

 intelligently done, however, never cutting without a reason. Knowledge 

 of the natural tendencies and weaknesses of the variety in hand is 

 necessary and a well defined appreciation of the end desired. 



If properly pruned from the start, trees may be largely built so that 

 they will need but little propping. Very heavy crops, however, will 

 call for supports, which should be given before the limbs are too much 

 bent with the weight of their load. The modern devices for propping 

 greatly simplify this work, which heretofore has been both laborious 

 and expensive. 



Fertilization. 



Among the numerous and perplexing problems with which the 

 orchardists have to contend, none perhaps causes more weariness of 

 mind than that of fertilization. We realize that as our orchards grow 

 older, and in order to retain their vigor, we mu.st supply them with 

 plant food in proper amount and in condition for assimilation. I have 

 no hesitancy in saying that in order to produce a fine quality of fruit 

 in abundance, attention must be given to this question. Just what to 

 do and when to do it is a question that cannot always be answered with 

 satisfactory definiteness. 



While I realize the value and importance of fertilization, yet the 

 m-any unknown conditions prevailing in the use of any kind of com- 



