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CITRUS FRUITS IN CALIFORNIA: 



ing balled trees where conditions are 

 unfavorable, as a balled tree is in con- 

 dition, if properly taken up, to stand 

 more hardship than one with naked or 

 open roots. 



Naked root trees are often planted 

 with good results and with little loss, 

 but if a large acreage is being planted 

 and the work of planting has to be in- 

 trusted to hired help, it is best to plant 

 balled trees. The loss will be very 

 light unless they are absolutely neg- 

 lected, and this difference will often 

 more than cover the additional cost of 

 balling and freight charges. Another 

 advantage of the balled over naked 

 root trees is, it is not necessary to 

 plant immediately upon arrival. They 

 can be held in a lath house or shed for 

 several months should conditions re- 

 quire it, and by sprinkling them to 

 keep the balls moist, they will keep 

 in perfect condition and be ready to 

 plant at any time. In balling trees 

 they should be taken out carefully so 

 as not to shatter the ball or disturb 

 any of the roots contained in it, as by 

 so doing the advantage of balling is 

 lost. We take particular pains along 

 this line to see that the men engaged 

 in the work use every precaution to 

 get out a perfect balled tree. We have 

 gone to considerable expense in select- 

 ing soil suitable for balling purposes, 

 hence we feel that we can furnish cus- 

 tomers perfectly balled trees. 



We also take every precaution in 

 taking up naked-root trees, and where 

 excessive freight rates prohibit the use 

 of balled trees, we can furnish naked- 

 root trees taken up under the most fa- 

 vorable conditions, and properly 

 packed so as to reach destination in a 

 growing condition, no matter how dis- 

 tant. Naked-root trees should first be 

 topped in the nursery and defoliated, 

 at the same time the tap roots should 

 be cut. This causes the tree to re- 

 turn to the dormant state and just as 

 the buds begin to swell and the trees 

 show signs of starting to grow they 

 are taken up and carefully packed in 

 moss for shipment. Plenty of moss is 

 used to insure the roots against heat- 

 ing in transit. Many packers make the 

 mistake of having the moss too wet, 

 which is as detrimental to the tree as 

 having it too dry. Trees packed in 

 this .condition will start to grow in the 

 boxes, and if properly insulated from 

 outside heat, will carry indefinitelv and 

 will be in perfect growing condition on 

 arrival at destination. 



Proper Methods of Planting 



In planting, set the trees so that 

 when the soil settles the union of the 

 bud with the stock will be at least a 

 couple of inches above the ground. Be 



Tree showing strong root development. 



sure to settle the soil around the tree 

 with water, whether planting naked- 

 root trees or balled. This should be 

 done as soon after planting as pos- 

 sible, and if the weather is warm it is 

 best to have the water following the 

 planting, so that but a few minutes 

 will intervene between the time of 

 planting and the time when the water 

 reaches it. 



If planting naked-root trees, have 

 the water in the holes first, then set 

 the tree and fill in with earth grad- 



