PLANTING ORANGE GROVES 373 



days to two weeks after the buds have been inserted, cut off the entire top 

 of the tree, above the buds, and cover the stump of trunk or large branch 

 with grafting wax applied hot with a brush. 



As soon as the wax is put on and it must be put on as soon as the top 

 is sawed off whitewash the tree, over the waxed cloth, also over the bud, 

 over every part of the tree that is left, except the stump ends, to which the 

 hot wax has been applied. Immediately the buds will begin to grow. 

 From ten days to two weeks after whitewashing take off the muslin wrap, 

 and, if the work has been done carefully in accordance with the above di- 

 rections, 90 per cent of the buds will develop perhaps more. A prime ne- 

 cessity for this work is a razor-sharp budding knife. 



There is a variation in practice in cutting back the stock above 

 the bud. Instead of cutting back at once, heroically, as just 

 described, some girdle the branch or cut back part of the top at a 

 distance above the bud, cutting down to the bud after it shows good 

 strong growth, tying the young growth to the stub at first to protect 

 it. Others insert the bud in the fall, cutting back to start the bud 

 after the fruit on the old top is gathered. It is very important to 

 watch for suckers below the bud and remove, to pinch them back, to 

 make a bunch of leaves. The growth from the bud itself often needs 

 pinching to induce low branching. Twig-budding can also be used 

 on the orange by the method already described for the olive. 



Budding in old trees is best done in February and March, when 

 the sap flow is strong, but, as stated, can be done in the fall and the 

 bud allowed to lie dormant until spring. 



PLANTING ORANGES IN ORCHARD 



As already stated, orange trees are planted out at a greater age 

 than deciduous fruit trees. Budded trees are given one or two 

 years' growth in nursery and one or two years' growth on the bud, 

 which, added to the year in seed bed, makes them three to four 

 years of age from the sowing of the seed. Seedlings, to be planted 

 out as such, are allowed two years' growth in the nursery, which 

 makes them three years old from the seed. For this length of time 

 and the unusual care involved in their growth, taking up from 

 nursery and the preparation for carriage, orange trees of planting 

 age are of much greater cost than deciduous fruit trees. 



Since the growing of seedlings for their fruit has practically 

 ceased, the distance between the trees in orchard planting has 

 ranged from twenty to twenty-four feet. All the varieties now 

 propagated are quick to bear fruit, and if properly shaped will find 

 ample space in these distances the greater distance on the richer 

 soil as a rule. 



Preparation of land for orange planting by deep and thorough 

 cultivation and laying off to secure straight rows by the square, 

 quincunx, and hexagonal methods have been quite fully discussed 

 in Chapter X, and Chapter XI has suggestions for planting, many 

 of which are applicable to the setting of orange trees. There are, 

 however, special methods employed in lifting the orange trees from 

 nursery rows and in placing them in permanent position, which will 

 be outlined. 



