378 CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



from severe pruning of the tops. For this reason so much 

 care must be exercised that the advice is so often given : 

 "Keep the pruning shears away from the trees and let 

 them develop as they will" advice which it is best for 

 the Florida grower to follow as a general rule. 



When trees are affected with die-back, much may be 

 done toward effecting a cure on most soils, by root-prun- 

 ing. The amount of pruning required will depend upon 

 the severity of the attack, the size of the tree and the 

 character of the soil. Pruning may be done by cutting a 

 circle around the tree with a sharp spade, thrusting it 

 well into the soil so as to sever a large number of roots. 

 The balance of the tree is restored by this method, and a 

 complete recovery frequently follows the practice. It 

 should be borne in mind, however, that in addition to this 

 treatment, the cause of the disorder in the tree, should be 

 sought for and the conditions favoring the development 

 of die-back removed as far as possible. 



Pruning Frozen Trees. In treating trees which have 

 been severely injured by cold, three courses are open : 

 first, to leave them alone ; second, to cut them back to the 

 ground; third, to cut them back part way. 



The first mentioned method is open to the objection 

 that after the tree sprouts, (and the roots of a citrus tree, 

 in the citrus districts, are seldom, if ever, entirely killed 

 by frost) the old, dead trunk and branches must neces- 

 sarily be removed sooner or later, and much of the new 

 growth must be sacrificed in the final pruning of the old 

 top. In addition the shade cast by the dead branches 

 may cause a weak, sappy growth of sprouts. For these 

 reasons it is best that some pruning be done. If, however, 

 the trees are but slightly injured, no pruning need be 



