THEIR CULTURE AND MANAGEMENT 



19 



April, May and June are considered 

 the most favorable. In the interior 

 valleys where it is extremely hot and 

 dry during the summer months, it is 

 advisable to plant as early as possible 

 in the spring, although planting 

 should not commence until the 

 ground is fairly warm 



so that the tree will 



immediately start to 

 grow. Trees planted 

 too early, while the 

 ground is still cold and 

 wet, will remain in a 

 dormant condition un- 

 til the ground gets suf- 

 ficiently warmed up so 

 that they can make a 

 start. When this con- 

 dition prevails for any 

 length of time it causes 

 the finer roots to de- 

 cay; as a consequence 

 of this, when the tree 

 does start, it will make 

 rather a slow growth 

 until new rootlets are 

 formed. For this rea- 

 son it is advisable to 

 defer planting until 

 conditions are favor- 

 able for the tree to- 

 start to grow as soon. 

 as planted. 



Along the coast where 

 the summer climate is 

 more moderate, citrus trees are plant- 

 ed with good results all through the 

 spring and summer months. In fact, 

 the trees planted during June and July 

 seem to make nearly as good a growth 

 as those planted in the spring. Where 

 planting cannot be done before this 

 time, it is our opinion that July or 

 early August planting is preferable to 

 waiting over until the following 

 spring. Even though the trees do 

 not make quite as vigorous a growth 

 as those planted earlier in the season, 

 they make sufficient growth to be- 

 come thoroughly established, in con- 

 sequence of which, they are all ready 

 to start with the first touch of spring 

 and are far ahead of any that can be 

 planted after that time. 



The only thing necessary to success- 

 ful summer planting is to see that the 

 trees are properly handled from the 

 nursery to the orchard and are suffi- 

 ciently well irrigated and cultivated. 

 The prompt application of water to 

 newly planted trees is very essential 

 in late planting. 



Bringing the Orchard Into Bearing. 



The instructions given under the 

 head of "Growing the Citrus" in a 

 general way covers the culture of the 

 orange, and very little more need be 

 added. Sufficient water and thorough 



A well-shaped Eureka lemon tree. 



cultivation are the two important 

 items necessary for the first few years. 

 In pruning, above all things do not be 

 deceived into the idea that the trees 

 must be thinned out to admit air and 

 sun. The tendency of nearly all the 

 budded varieties is to droop, so in 

 shaping the tree cut to a lateral 

 which has an upward tendency. For 

 the first four years except to check 

 the growth of rampant and interfer- 

 ing branches for the purpose of secur- 

 ing a well rounded symmetrical head, 

 little or no pruning is necessary. As 

 the tree develops, dead branches and 

 those which are no longer fruit pro- 

 ducing should be removed annually. 

 A well pruned orange tree should pre- 

 sient a compact mass of foliage with 

 none of the branches exposed to view. 

 If the tree is to develop properly it 

 is essential that all water sprouts and 

 suckers be kept down. 



The orange begins to bear fruit the 

 second or third year, but not in suffi- 

 cient quantities to be of commercial 

 importance although we have known 



