FRUITS 249 



rough lemon is a favorite stock with the nurserymen 

 because it transplants easily and the young trees grow 

 very rapidly. This rapid growth tends to make 

 the first crops of fruit coarse and poor in quality, but 

 this defect is remedied as the trees come into full 

 bearing. It is probably one of the best stocks to use 

 for light soils, especially in regions where there is 

 little danger from frost. It is the general opinion, 

 however, that this stock is not well adapted to heavy 

 lands. The sour orange thrives in a great variety 

 of soils, and it will undoubtedly stand more water 

 and other unfavorable conditions than any of the 

 others. It is very resistant to foot rot and is nat- 

 urally very long lived. While trees budded on it 

 do not grow quite as fast as on the rough lemon, it is 

 greatly to be preferred on heavy lands, and on the 

 whole it is probably the safest stock for general 

 planting. 



There is some diversity of oj^inion as to the best 

 age at which to move orange trees from the nursery 

 to the orchard. Many planters prefer large, heavy, 

 two- or even three-year-old trees, and it is probably 

 true that such trees give better results than in the 

 case of most deciduous fruits. Everything consid- 

 ered, however, a well-grown tree that is from twelve 

 to eighteen months from the bud will be more satis- 

 factory and can be handled more easily and cheaply 

 than the older, larger ones. Two- and three-year-old 

 nursery trees are only too often the culls that did not 

 make sufficient growth to be sold as yearlings. It is 

 a great mistake, however, to plant a very small orange 

 tree, or one so young that the wood is not thoroughly 



