CHAPTER XXXVII. 

 PRUNING CITRUS TREES. 



As a whole, no group of fruit trees require less prun- 

 ing than citrus trees, after they are once set out and es- 

 tablished in the grove. 

 Most of the pruning is, in 

 many cases, given at the 

 time of planting, and with 

 the exception of the lemon 

 systematic pruning, such 

 as is given peaches, is not 

 practiced. Excellent spec- 

 imens of citrus trees, to 

 which the pruning shears 

 are entirely unknown, may 

 be found throughout the 

 citrus districts. But while 

 this is the case, pruning 

 must generally be done to 

 some extent at some pe- 

 riod in the life of the tree. 



High vs. Low-headed 

 Trees. Some years ago it 

 was invariably the rule to 

 grow high-headed trees, 

 trees with from four to six 

 feet of bare trunk. Now 

 the tendency is the other 

 way, viz. : in favor of 

 low-headed trees, with 

 branches sweeping the Fig 82 The correct way to hold the shears 



ornnml na illnjtrfltprl in P nln - *' e. with the cutting blade 



giouna, as .nustrdtea agalllst the part whlcll is to remain 



