HORTICULTURE 269 



several means at hand for reproducing the orange or other citrus 

 trees. 



Seeds. The easiest method of propagation is by seed, but this 

 plan is unsatisfactory when used alone. The seeds of these, as of 

 many other plants, can not be relied upon to reproduce the variety 

 from which they are taken, and for this and other reasons the 

 seedling orange has ceased to be desirable as a commercial fruit. 

 Almost any seedling sweet orange, given proper care and cultiva- 

 tions, will produce fruit that is edible, but seedlings have no uni- 

 formity as to size, thickness of rind, flavor, number of seeds, or other 

 essential characteristics. Occasionally a tree is found producing 

 fruit which combines the elements of a good merchantable orange, 

 but such cases are rare. Seed propagation must, for the reasons 

 given above, be supplemented by budding and grafting. This con- 

 sists essentially in placing a small part of a tree of a known variety 

 in such contact with the seedling tree that it unites with the latter. 

 Then, by removing all of the original tree above the point of union, 

 this small part which is inserted grows until it forms a new top 

 for the tree. It must be distinctly understood that the bud or scion 

 inserted does not convert any remaining parts of the former tree top 

 into the new variety. Budding is not inoculation, as some have 

 supposed. 



In growing the seedling trees which are to be budded the seeds 

 may be started in an open seed bed or in deep boxes. In any case 

 the soil should be well drained and friable and should be made 

 fairly rich, preferably by the use of commercial fertilizers, applied 

 two or three weeks before planting. The seeds should be planted 

 while fresh and should not be allowed to dry out. If it is desired 

 to hold them for some time before planting they may be preserved 

 by burying deeply in moist sand. If large numbers of seeds are 

 desired the fruits may be allowed to decay and the seeds washed 

 out later through a sieve. The seed may be planted not more than 

 1 inch deep, in rows 3 or 4 inches apart, or wider if it is desired to 

 keep them clean with the hoe. They will not germinate for about 

 six weeks. When they have made a growth of about 6 inches they 

 may be removed and placed in nursery rows, where the soil has been 

 well prepared and fertilized. In the nursery the plants may stand 

 12 to 18 inches apart, in rows 4 to 6 feet apart. Keep the ground 

 well tilled, moist, and rich enough to produce a vigorous, steady 

 growth. At about two years from seed the young trees will be large 

 enough to bud, and a year or two later may be dug up and set out 

 in the orchard or grove. 



Budding and Grafting. There are several methods of bud: 



ding and grafting citrus trees, but that most commonly used is 

 known as "shield" budding. Select budding wood, bearing well- 

 matured buds and not more than 1 year old, but old enough to have 

 lost the angular form characteristic of the youngest orange wood. 

 It is best to cut these pieces from the tree of the desired variety 

 when it is dormant and preserve them until the stocks into which 

 they are to be set are in a proper condition. They may be pre- 



