364 CALIFORNIA FRUITS I HOW TO GROW THEM 



Growth from Cuttings. The method of propagation is described 

 in Chapter VIII. 



Growth from Layers. The orange roots readily by layering, the 

 drooping branches being partly cut through, buried in the soil with 

 the terminal shoots above the ground. Layers must be kept moist. 

 Layering may be employed to obtain a few plants easily, but, other- 

 wise, it cuts no figure in propagation. Layers and cuttings, of course, 

 reproduce the original variety without recourse to budding. 



Growth from Seed. The orange is grown upon seedlings of the 

 bitter orange or orange of Seville, generally called "Florida sour stock" ; 

 of the common or sweet orange and of the pomelo or Grape Fruit. 

 Good plump seed should be selected in growing orange seedlings either 

 for their own fruitage or to use as stocks for budding. 



When seedlings for fruiting are grown, select seed from a choice 

 variety in a situation where other citrus species are not grown ; but the 

 orange can not be trusted to come true from seed, and, more than this, 

 the seedling class for fruiting purposes has been practically abandoned 

 as unprofitable to plant, though fruit from old seedling trees is occa- 

 sionally sold at a profit. 



In securing seed the fruit is allowed to rot and when thoroughly 

 decayed, it is pulped by mashing in a barrel, and the mass is washed, 

 a little at a time, on a coarse sieve, the pulp passing through, and the 

 seed being caught on the wires, and pieces of skin thrown out. The 

 plump seed will sink if thrown into water, and the imperfect can be 

 skimmed from the top. The seed should never be allowed to dry, and 

 unless it is to be sown at once, should be stored by mixing with moist 

 sand, from which it can be afterwards removed by sifting; or it can 

 be kept for a time in water, changing the water from time to time to 

 prevent souring. The best time for sowing orange seed is after the 

 ground has become warm in the spring. 



Orange seedlings are grown either in boxes or in the open ground. 

 In either case a rich sandy loam which will not bake should be secured 

 or artificially made by mixing sand with rich garden loam. Boxes of 

 about two square feet area and six inches deep are convenient to handle. 

 The bottom should have holes, or sufficient crevices for good drainage. 

 Fill the boxes about four inches with the prepared soil, place the seeds 

 about an inch and a half apart each way, sift over them about an inch 

 of the soil, or a little less of the soil, and a layer of clear sand if it is at 

 hand. It is essential that the soil should be kept moist, and light 

 sprinkling daily, or every other day, with water that has been 

 warmed by standing in the sun, is desirable. Seed can be sown in 

 boxes in the house at any time if plenty of light and heat are given. 

 If the boxes are to be out-of-doors, it is best to sow in the spring, and 

 to rig up a cover of cheap cotton cloth, suspended about a foot above 

 the surface, to prevent effect of frost at night, and of burning by sun 

 heat by day. The seedlings usually appear in about six weeks, and 

 with good care in weeding and keeping sufficiently, but not excessively, 

 moist, they will make a growth of about a foot the first season. Some 

 growers collect the boxes in a sheltered place, and build over them a 



