CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



sucker-growths. Probably there is truth on both sides of the con- 

 troversy Growth of new fruit wood from old is desirable, and 

 suckers from stem or main branches, showing the marks of wild 

 erowth should be repressed but perhaps it is more rational to 

 study how to use the outbreaks of the tree toward freedom than to 

 make a rule for their thoughtless extirpation. 



4 



PRUNING FOR CONTINUOUS RENEWAL 



As to the pruning of bearing orange trees there are among 

 California growers irreconcilable views and conflicting practices 

 which defy reduction to suggestions of universal application. It 

 seems as clearly impossible to prescribe rules for pruning the orange 

 as for other fruit trees. Evidently the grower must observe closely 

 and think hard about what he sees. A very rational outline of the 

 subject was recently prepared by Mr. J. B. Neff of Anaheim as 

 follows : 



Pruning is as necessary to success in growing oranges as with other 

 fruits, and if altogether neglected the crop will be disappointing though 

 other care has been given. Oranges which bring the highest prices do not 

 grow on trees which have small leaves and slender twigs, neither do young 

 and abnormally vigorous trees have smooth fruit, hence we must have the 

 medium, and this can be brought about by judicious pruning. If we take 

 a tree having small leaves and small twigs we find it will bloom profusely 

 but that too many of the blossoms will fall and that the remaining small 

 fruits will drop badly until but a light crop is left and these are of small 

 sizes. By pruning out sufficient of the old growth the new wood will be 

 larger and the leaves will grow larger, which in turn will produce larger 

 and better fruit. Small leaves and fine fruit are not found on the same 

 branch. 



It is difficult to give detailed instructions as to the amount taken out as 

 each tree requires treatment in some manner different from its neighbor, 

 but observation of the trees in the orchard will soon teach the grower to 

 take out the proper amount to produce the desired sizes. 



The pruning of Valencia orange trees is often neglected because there 

 are always oranges on the trees and the grower dislikes to take any off 

 without selling them, so the pruning is limited to the dead branches while 

 the pruning should be such as to keep the branches from dying. Pruning 

 of Navel orange trees should be done as soon as the fruit is gathered, while 

 Valencia orange trees should be pruned in May or early in June when the 

 fruit which is cut off in pruning can be sold. 



The openings made by pruning should not be so large that sucker 

 growth will form in such spaces. This growth will need much watching 

 and pinching of tips to prevent unduly long branches which do not pro- 

 duce fruit. If large branches must come out use a sharp fine-toothed saw. 

 'Cut close to the body or main branch so the wound will heal quickly, and 

 cover with mineral paint. 



The most profitable form of an orange tree is that of a deeply corru- 

 gated column, though not always attainable. This allows light to reach the 

 interior of the tree and furnishes the largest possible fruiting surface on 

 the outer part of the tree. When the corrugated form can not be produced 

 to the full height of the tree, smaller openings can be made by cutting out 

 branches which start two or three feet back from the outside of the tree. 



Mr. Neff's plan of maintaining vigor in bearing trees by 

 systematic pruning thus consists in treatment of the exterior of 

 the tree so that it shall not show a smooth wall of foliage but corru- 

 gations more or less vertical these upright valleys or cuts illumi- 



