34 ORANGE CULTURE IN FLORIDA. 



by two inches than lower by one inch than it origi- 

 nally grew. You cannot be too cautious at this 

 point. If the tree is set too deep, it may live, but it 

 will not flourish for some time ; it may be not for 

 years, but certainly not till it has sent out fresh 

 surface roots to take the place of those which have 

 been smothered by having been buried too deeply. 

 The tree having been put in position, replace the 

 soil, packing it first firmly around the tap-root. 

 Now press down the ends of the laterals so that 

 they will have a slight dip, and fill in with soil, 

 treading it firmly upon the roots. Finally cover 

 over with two inches of light soil and leave the 

 ground level. When the ground is sufficiently wet 

 it 'is not necessary to use water. But if the ground 

 is dry, use enough water to settle the soil firmly 

 around the roots, and especially around the tap- 

 root, but do not wet the top layer of earth. I pre- 

 fer planting after showers to using water. If the 

 planting is done in spring or summer, mulch at 

 once with one or two inches of litter, and if the 

 trees have been set in the open ground shelter them 

 from the sun by setting a pine bough to the south 

 of the tree. If the stumps have been taken from 

 a dry soil the above is sufficient to insure their liv- 

 ing, but if taken from a very wet soil, be careful to 

 keep the ground moist till the new roots have well 

 started and penetrated well into the soil. The 

 stump should be cut off two and a half feet high. 

 If the stumps have been budded, and the buds have 



