24 ORANGE CULTURE IN FLORIDA. 



ing off all the sour shoots from the first, but this is 

 at the risk of the health of both the stock and the 

 bud. I will mention one other thing in this con- 

 nection : do not allow the sweet bud to grow too 

 long before pinching it back. If allowed to grow 

 two or three feet, as it will from a very vigorous 

 slump, it is liable to be broken off by the wind. 

 But even if it should be securely tied so as to pre- 

 vent such an accident, it should, nevertheless, be 

 pinched back in order to hasten the maturity of its 

 own wood and leaves. The mature leaves are nec- 

 essary to the health of both stock and bud, and 

 necessary to gain a controlling influence over the 

 circulation, and to draw it as early as possible to the 

 sweet bud. By this means also the mature wood of 

 the sweet bud is better enabled to resist the blight- 

 ing influence of both sun and frost. Still another 

 advantage is gained. By pinching back the bud it 

 is induced to branch near its junction with the 

 stock and thus enlarge and strengthen its connection 

 with the stock. 



I again call the attention of the reader to the 

 other mistake mentioned in the beginning of this 

 chapter, and so frequently made by those who have 

 undertaken to improve wild groves. Nature has 

 not only planted these groves, found above the frost 

 line on the south side of bodies of water, but has 

 also taken the additional precaution to. plant them 

 under the protection of forest trees. Thus doubly 

 guarded, these orange trees have grown, some of 



