376 CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



in Figs. 17 and 22. Experience has proved that the latter 

 style of tree is much preferable. The trunk is protected 

 from the rays of the sun and from the effects of cold by the 

 branches and dense foliage. Few realize the amount of 

 protection afforded the trunk and large branches by the 

 mass of leaves. The fruit is more easily and economically 

 removed from low-headed trees than from high-headed 

 ones. Low-headed trees are not so liable to injury during 

 wind storms. Air does not circulate through a grove of 

 low-headed trees so readily as through plantings of high 

 headed ones, consequently protection by open fires can be 

 carried on to better advantage. Low-headed trees shade 

 the ground beneath them and prevent the rapid evapora- 

 tion of moisture. The low, hanging branches serve all 

 the purposes of a mulch. On soils, however, which are in- 

 clined to bake and become hard, it may be necessary to 

 have the lower branches sufficiently elevated above the 

 ground to permit of cultivation, but generally this is un- 

 necessary. The expense of spraying is lessened consider- 

 ably by heading the trees low. To secure low-headed 

 trees, they should be cut back severely at the time of 

 planting. Not more than eighteen or twenty-four inches 

 of trunk should be left. The branches which form the 

 strong framework of the tree should be allowed to de 

 velop from three to four buds at the top. 



Old, high-headed trees may often be improved by 

 building the head downward. Frequently suckers spring 

 from the large branches and shove their way up through 

 the top of the tree. Many growers remove these as soon as 

 they appear. This is not good policy. They should be al- 

 lowed to remain, for after rising above the surrounding 

 top, they branch and bear fruit. Unless they are needed 

 to fill out a space in the top, or if they crowd or interfere 



