380 CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



velop. Thin them out after they have grown sufficiently 

 to make it possible to choose the more vigorous ones. Ap- 

 ply the rule of the survival of the fittest and remove the 

 weaker sprouts. 



After the sprouts have started, it may be necessary 

 in some cases to resort to root-pruning to secure a more 

 vigorous and healthy growth. This may be accomplished 

 by plowing rather deeply, or by the use of the spade. The 

 amount of pruning should be governed by the size of the 

 trees. 



Wiring Sprouts from Frozen Trees. Supporting 

 sprouts by one or more wires drawn tightly around them 

 to hold them together is probably the best means of pre- 

 venting their breaking away. Telegraph wire is best. 

 Some have taken infinite pains in boring a small hole 

 through each branch, through which to pass the wire, be- 

 lieving that if it were simply tied about them that the wire 

 would gradually cut into and destroy the branch. Though 

 such would seem to be a logical conclusion, it does not 

 appear to be the case, and observation has shown that the 

 wire or wires may be simply tied around the branches. 

 The wire cuts into the wood but the wood grows over 

 and unites on the outside, leaving the wire firmly imbed- 

 ded in the wood. Branches wired in this way in 1896 

 have been noted. They are now three to five inches in 

 diameter and the wire passes directly through their cen- 

 ters, with the wood firmly united about it. The flow of 

 sap and the growth and development of the branch are not 

 interfered with. 



If the sprouts start from the ground, a wire should 

 be placed about them three and a half or four feet from the 

 ground. 



Pruning Tools. The tools used in pruning should 



