PROPAGATION OF CITRUS TREES. 



175 



trees has little to recommend it and is not practicable. 

 The citron, lemon, trifoliate orange and Otaheite orange 

 may be grown from cuttings. 



Cuttings should be made from well matured wood of 

 one or two season's growth. Each cutting should have 

 at least three or four well matured buds and should be 

 about five inches long. Trim off the leaves, cut the dis- 

 tal end with a smooth, sloping cut just above a bud and 

 cut the proximal end so as to leave a similar surface just 

 below a bud. The knife should have a keen, sharp edge 

 to insure smoothness of the cut surfaces. A clean, smooth 

 cut greatly facilitates the formation 

 of a callus, which must take place 

 before roots will develop. 



Though the cuttings may be rooted 

 in almost any well drained soil, still 

 the better plan is to plant them in 

 clean washed sand, free from organic 

 substances. Organic matter nearly 

 always contains the organisms of de- 

 cay. These may attack the cuttings 

 and cause them to rot. Place the cut- 

 tings in rows six to twelve inches 

 apart and three or four inches apart 

 in the rows. Give sufficient water to 

 keep the cutting bed moist, and pro- 

 tect it from the direct rays of the sun. 

 If bottom heat can be applied, they 

 will take root more readily. When 

 the cuttings have formed a number of 

 roots, and have sent out shoots bear- 

 ing two or three leaves, they may be transplanted to two 

 or three inch pots. The cuttings may be allowed to de- 



Fig. 43. Genoa lemon 

 cutting, six months old; 

 stem four inches long. 



