234 CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



suffice, and the plan advised by Moore, of planting in 

 small blocks with shelter belts intervening, is by all 

 means advisable. In exposed regions this plan should 

 always be adopted. 



Having decided to make a complete clearing, it is 

 best to commence operations one year previous to plant- 

 ing. The standing timber and all growth should be cut 

 down. Then the stumps should be removed. The use of 

 a good stump-puller is always advisable and dynamite 

 is often a necessity. Clear thoroughly and either dis- 

 pose of the wood and brush and plant a cover crop in 

 summer or allow the brush, roots and trunks to shelter 

 the ground during the summer. If the latter course is 

 adopted, the brush should not be piled and should be al- 

 lowed to remain spread out over the surface. 



Preferably the ground selected for the citrus grove 

 should be cleared the winter before the one during which 

 the trees are to be planted. After having removed the 

 standing stumps and rubbish, the ground should be 

 plowed, harrowed and leveled. During the intervening 

 summer season, a cover crop should be planted. The roots 

 of this crop will open up the soil, nitrogen will be added 

 (if a legume is planted), humus will be added and on 

 the whole no better preparation can be given the soil for 

 the future grove than by adopting this plan. If possible 

 to do so, it should always be followed, and if a piece of 

 old ground is to be planted in trees it is the best method 

 of insuring satisfactory results. In the latter ca^e, more 

 than one season may be required to get the ground in 

 shape. As a cover crop, beggarweed, velvet beans or cow- 

 peas may be planted, and the remarks on these crops in 

 Chapter XXXIII apply equally well here. Cowpeas gen 



