434 MANUAL OF GARDENING 



The soil preferred for oranges in California is a rich, deep alluviunn., 

 avoiding hard-pan or adobe subsoils. Stagnant water in the subsoil 

 is a fatal defect. Although they can be grown near the ocean at a 

 lower level, an elevation of 600 to 1200 feet is generally desirable. 

 While southern California is particularly adapted to orange culture, 

 the fruit is successfully raised along the foot-hills of the San Joaquin 

 and Sacramento valleys and in other parts of the state. 



In Florida, pine lands with a clay subsoil are generally preferred for 

 oranges, but if properly handled, good results can be obtained from 

 hammock land. As elevated spots cannot be secured, a timber belt 

 surrounding the orchard or along the north and west sides is 

 desirable. 



The distance for the large-growing kinds of orange in the orchard 

 is from 25 to 30 feet each way, but the half-dwarf kinds, such as 

 Bahia or Washington Navel, may be as close as 20 feet each way, 

 although 25 feet will be desirable. If the roots are sacked, the 

 trees should be placed in the hole without removing the cover- 

 ing, and the soil should then be packed about them; but if they 

 are puddled, a mound should be made in the bottom of the hole. In 

 the center an opening should be made into which the tap-root can be 

 inserted. After the soil has been firmly packed about it, the other 

 roots should be spread out and the hole filled with good soil, packing 

 it carefully. Care should be taken that the roots are not exposed in 

 handling the trees, and if the weather is hot and dry, the tops should be 

 shaded. Water may often be used with good results in settling the 

 soil about the roots. 



W^hen transplanted, the tops should be cut back in proportion to 

 the amount of roots lost in digging the trees. The head is usually 

 started with the branches about 2 feet from the ground. Each year 

 w^hile the trees are small, the strong shoots should be cut back to 

 preserve a symmetrical form and the weak and surplus shoots should 

 be removed. 



The cultivation of orange orchards should be the same as recom- 

 mended for other fruits, except that as they grow in hot, dry climates, 

 it should be even more thorough, that the evaporation of moisture 

 from the soil may be reduced to a minimum. California growers have 

 found that by frequent shallow cultivation they can reduce the amount 



