TREATMENT OF PITS OF STONE FRUITS 55 



Citrus Fruits. The propagation of citrus fruits will be described 

 in detail in Chapters XXXIII, XXXIV and XXXV. 



The Larger Stone Fruits. In handling pits of the larger stone 

 fruits, apricot, peach, plum, etc., the chief requisite is to prevent 

 drying and great hardening of the pit. Some plant in the fall and 

 trust to natural conditions to start the seedling in the spring, but 

 this interferes with the cultivation of the ground, and leaves the 

 seedling to grow in soil which has perhaps been puddled by heavy 

 winter rains. There must also be much hand work done to clear 

 the rows from weeds. It is much better to keep the pits from drying 

 by covering with sand moderately moist, hasten the sprouting by 

 appropriate treatment toward spring, and then plant out in thor- 

 oughly prepared soil, and they will make a satisfactory growth. 

 The following method, by D. J. Parmele, of Vacaville, has given 

 good results : 



Keep the pits out of the sun until the rains commence in the fall, then 

 put them into a box about a foot deep with openings at the bottom for drain- 

 age, and scatter sand or fine earth through them, putting about two inches 

 on top, and place them under the eaves of a building on the south side, 

 where they will get well soaked every time it rains. If there should be a 

 long dry spell during the winter, water them a little. About March they will 

 open and sprout. Then take a plow and open a deep furrow in loose, mellow 

 ground, and with a hoe pull about two-thirds of the dirt back into the 

 furrow, breaking the clods, and making it fine, the same as you would if you 

 expected to plant onion seed there. Drop the sprouted pits in straight line, 

 and cover two inches. On account of the extra work in preparing the 

 ground, the trees will be large enough to bud in July. 



Another way is to spread out the pits on a smooth piece of 

 ground and cover with sacks, and over these a layer of straw three 

 or four inches thick to retain moisture. The pits may be planted 

 out as soon as they crack open, although no harm will be done if 

 they are allowed to lie until the sprouts are well out. 



Another method which has been especially recommended for 

 treatment for almonds is the following : Lay boards upon the ground 

 and cover them with an inch of sand; spread on this a layer of 

 almonds and then another inch of sand, and so on. Keep the pile 

 wet, and in three weeks of warm weather they will burst open. Plant 

 in drills one inch deep and put over them a light coat of rotten straw. 



If from any cause the pits have become quite dry, they should be 

 soaked in water two or three days before planting. 



Nut Tree Seedlings. In growing nut-tree seedlings, much the 

 same methods are followed as with pits of stone fruits. There are 

 methods described in detail by California growers which should be 

 given. As has been said, the nuts may be planted at any time after 

 ripening, in the milder parts of the State, if the grower will under- 

 take the greater care and cultivation. On some light soils where the 

 rainfall is not excessive, this is not much trouble. Felix Gillet, of 

 Nevada City, gives this as his method : 



The nuts may be planted as soon as gathered, though in Nevada City it is 

 too cold to plant them in the fall, for the frost in winter would surely lift 

 the nuts right out of the ground. For keeping and sprouting walnuts, I 



