24 WILSON & TOOMER FERTILIZER COMPANY 



and should be grown on a lighter, drier soil than in the 

 proposed grove rather than on heavier, wetter land. 



When to Set Trees The best time to set trees is from 

 the middle of November to the middle of February, 

 though with proper handling it is safe to move an orange 

 tree at almost any time. Trees must be kept damp from 

 the taking-up until they are set in the ground. Many 

 a tree gets its death stroke between the nursery and the 

 grove, though it may struggle along some months before 

 it finally succumbs. 



Pruning Do not make the mistake of trying to keep 

 too much top. The top should be cut off about one and 

 a half or two feet above the ground. The roots should 

 be cut to about a foot in length, with the tap root about 

 one and a half feet. The ends should be cut smooth, not 

 broken or crushed. 



Distance There are many opinions in regard to what 

 is the most profitable space for a tree. My personal pref- 

 erence is to have orange trees twenty, and grapefruit 

 trees twenty-five feet apart in rows thirty feet wide. 

 When well grown the branches will meet in the rows, 

 but a team can pass between the rows. For economy and 

 effectiveness of labor, it is necessary to use teams, which 

 would be impossible in groves set much closer than this. 

 The closely set groves yield a much greater income the 

 first few years at least. Their advocates say they con- 

 tinue to do so, but all the owners of old closely set 

 groves I have seen, wish they had more space. Many 

 prospective growers have it figured out on paper that 



