PREPARATIONS FOR PLANTING. 243 



the two pieces must correspond, and the first notch should 

 be cut about a foot back from the front end. They are 

 two inches deep at the front, and slope out to the edge of 

 the plank six inches back, thus leaving two inches of the 

 plank for overlapping. The six pieces of plank are then 

 laid in the notches and nailed or bolted firmly in place. 

 A chain is run through the holes already provided and 

 to this the wkiflletrees are attached. This has proved 

 to be a very satisfactory device for leveling lumps and 

 even for filling up shallow depressions. 



DISTANCES FOR PLANTING. 



Growers differ greatly regarding the distance apart 

 at which citrus trees should be set. As a matter of fact, 

 no set of distances can be given which will be best for all 

 conditions. Many things have to be considered in decid- 

 ing the point. Much depends upon the natural moisture 

 content of the soil, the amount of water that can be se- 

 cured, either by irrigation or from rainfall, the amount of 

 fertility in the soil, the kind of stocks, the variety of 

 tree, and whether it is necessary to' protect the trees from 

 frost all have to be taken into consideration. A canvass 

 of the situation in Florida some years ago showed that 

 sweet oranges are, or have been, planted all the way 

 from 15x15 feet to 35x35 feet; pomelos the same; manda- 

 rins 15x15 feet to 25x25 feet ; lemons 20x20 feet to 30x40 

 feet; and limes 15x15 feet to 20x20 feet. 



If the trees are planted in a region subject to frost, 

 and protection by means of open wood fires is to 1 be prac- 

 ticed, it is best to plant the trees so as to leave sufficient 

 space for firing. A plan sometimes adopted is to plant 

 sweet orange trees 15x15 feet and omit every third row. 

 It must be remembered also that the effects of frost or 



