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ground, as a matter of course, should be well manured at the start if 

 requisite, and free supplies given afterwards. 



PRUNING AND TRAINING 



Like all other fruit trees those of the Citrus family require some 

 attention in pruning. But the operation should be performed in a 

 rational manner with a due regard to the natural habits of the trees,, 

 their age, and condition. The operation of pruning is too often performed 

 without much discrimination, and the trees cut in such a manner as is 

 productive of more harm than good. In pruning trees of the Orange 

 family cultivators should be careful in using the knife or saw, and no 

 more cutting ought to be done than circumstances render necessary. In 

 the case of trees which have arrived at the full-bearing age, but com- 

 paratively little is required in the way of pruning except for any special 

 purpose. The removal of rank shoots, dead or diseased wood, and the 

 thinning out of the branches when over-crowded so as to allow light and 

 air to penetarate freely is all that is generally required in the shape of 

 pruning. In the case of young trees a different way of treatment i& 

 necessary, as the object of the cultivator is the development of a strong 

 growth of wood in particular directions, and to bring about the desired 

 result the knife must be used more freely. Young trees, in the first 

 place, should have sufficient lateral shoots left to balance the plants in 

 each direction and form the heads. As a rule, shoots which are not 

 required for the development of the trees should be cut away close to the 

 main stems. It is better, however to leave a few more shoots than those 

 which will be ultimately required to form the trees in order to afford the 

 stems the necessary protection from the sun, removing them as the trees 

 increase in size. In training trees of the Citrus family it is desirable 

 that the branches hang to within about tw r o feet of the ground so as to 

 protect the trunks from the heat of the sun in summer. It is not an 

 uncommon thing for trees to be trained high so that horse-power culti- 

 vating implements can be used close to the stem, but the practice is bad. 

 The writer holds the opinion that the cracking or discolouration of the 

 bark in Orange and other fruit trees, which is so common in this part of 

 the world, is often caused by the sap fermenting through the action of 

 the sun. By training the heads low the^e will be no trouble caused by 

 the exposure of the trunks. Besides, trees with low heads are less liable 

 to suffer from the effects of high winds. It is not advisable to let young 

 Orange trees bear too freely, as the production of fruit lessens the growth 

 of wood. The growth of wood in young trees is the principal considera- 

 tion. Trees should be five years old before they are allowed to bear 

 heavy crops, as by that time they will have attained a fair amount of 

 growth. 



PROTECTING THE BOOTS. 



In the cultivation of trees of this family and other evergreen fruits, it 

 is advisable to place them under such conditions that their roots will not 



