CALIFORNIA CITRUS CULTURE. 17 



with good surface soil, when enough water should be added to settle 

 the soil thoroughly about the roots or ball and -to crowd out all the air 

 and saturate the ball through and through, after which fill in to the 

 top, leaving the trees a little higher than they stood in the nursery, 

 as they will settle slightly after they are planted. The bud should be 

 some inches above the earth. Not only should the bud be well above 

 the ground, but it is equally important, probably more important, not 

 to plant the roots too deep. Preferably the crown roots should not be 

 planted more than two inches below the mean surface level of the 

 crown. 



As soon as the trees are all set they should receive a thorough irriga- 

 tion, especially if not balled, and a good cultivation as soon thereafter 

 as the soil is in proper condition, both of which as we have seen should 

 be deep. 



PROPAGATING CITRUS TREES. 



More and more, I think, will our citrus growers start their own trees. 

 Yet nurserymen need not shiver at this advice, as few will follow it. 

 The orchardist can then select seeds and buds, and can care for the 

 plants from the very first, and very likely such care, costing but little, 

 will double the annual income as the trees come to maturity. I know 

 starting trees is a complex matter a trade to be learned, but I have 

 great faith in Yankee gumption. 



As large seeds are preferable, seeds of the sour orange, sweet orange 

 and pomelo are to be preferred, the largest seeds always to be selected. 

 These should be secured from the fruit of trees of maximum perform- 

 ance and thrift. Whether or not the stock affects quality of scion or 

 bud so as to influence quality of fruit, surely every plant and animal 

 has better promise if the parents are full of vigor, health and action. 

 In Europe sour stock is everywhere preferred and almost universally 

 used. We are now rapidly coming to the same practice. 



Seed are secured by cutting selected fruit, squeezing out pulp and 

 seeds and sieving; or the fruit may be decomposed in water and .the 

 seeds washed free from the pulp by use of the sieve. The seeds should 

 never be permitted to dry, and to prevent this they may be stratified 

 in moist sand till needed for planting. Seeds from Florida come dry, 

 but will germinate readily if soaked in water about seventy hours before 

 planting. Mr. R. M. Teague, one of our most successful growers, always 

 plants in the open, with no protection. He thinks this gives him hardier 

 trees and a better root system. It is to be said, however, that his loca- 

 2 cc 



