PLANTING ORANGE TREES 375 



must be carefully handled so as not to break the ball, which would 

 result in tearing to pieces, as well as exposing, the roots. 



The manner of handling the trees depends somewhat upon the 

 character of the nursery soil. Successful balling, of course, requires 

 a certain amount of adhesiveness in the soil. 



One can not be too careful in the handling of orange trees. 

 Though they will stand harsh treatment when in permanent place, 

 they must be most carefully transplanted. Lifting from the nursery 

 when the soil is too dry, exposure of the roots, or careless planting, 

 will consign the tree to a slow, sickly growth, and often kill it 

 outright. 



Cutting Back at Transplanting. The rule of reducing the top 

 to compensate for the loss of roots, is vital in moving orange trees, 

 but sometimes cutting back is carried too far and subsequent growth 

 is checked rather than promoted. Some growers cut back the young 

 trees a little while before lifting them from the nursery. Some take 

 off all leaves after planting out, and claim that growth starts sooner 

 and more strongly, but it is doubtful whether defoliation is advis- 

 able, except in case of wilting, when it is necessary. 



Digging Holes and Setting Trees. The same considerations 

 which require extra care in lifting trees for nursery, rule in putting 

 them in permanent place. All authorities on the subject specify 

 exceptional care in preparing the tree holes as a profitable invest- 

 ment on the part of the planter. Large and deep holes are com- 

 mended, provided the planting is done in a deep, free soil. Deep 

 holes would be more injurious than beneficial in a tight sub-soil, 

 unless drainage were furnished, but there are good orange trees 

 now bearing in such places good enough at least to be an ornament 

 and acceptable fruit producers for family use. 



On large-scale planting in deeply prepared soils, holes large 

 enough to allow good spreading of the roots are sufficient. Hand- 

 ling the soil at planting has been fully described in Chapter XI, and 

 the importance of bringing the soil into firm contact with the roots 

 has been urged. The use of water in planting citrus fruit trees is 

 especially desirable. Transplanting should be done just as the 

 growth is starting in the late spring or early summer, and this 

 is! the opening of the dry season and rains can not be expected. 

 Therefore, when the roots are arranged and the top soil lightly 

 trampled around them, water is run in the hole and the earth com- 

 pacted around the roots by water settling. After the water has 

 settled away, the hole is filled and the surface left loose to prevent 

 evaporation. 



These instructions apply to the planting out of trees which are 

 taken up with long roots and puddled. In planting out balled trees, 

 the sack is not removed, but after the tree is embedded in the earth, 

 the tying rope is cut. The sack soon decays in the soil. 



Orange trees can be successfully transplanted at different times 

 of the year, but the best time, as just stated, is after the ground gets 

 well warmed by the spring sunshine. The date at which this con- 

 dition arrives depends upon locality. Experience seems to indicate 



