15 years before the trees will reach this stage, but when they 

 do there should be no hesitancy in cutting them back severely 

 and thinning- vigorously, to promote a strong, new growth. 

 Even before this age the trees will have a large amount of 

 inside growth, which, when it is no longer productive, should 

 be cut out entirely. This does not mean necessarily that the 

 trees should be thinned out like a peach, for this would be a 

 mistake, but that wood which indicates by its appearance that 

 it has lost its vitality should be removed, for it will soon be 

 replaced by new wood. 



Trees that have attained an age of thirty or even fifty 

 years may be induced to clothe themselves with a wealth 

 of new growtli if the method of pruning which is here recom- 

 mended is observed. The very fact that there are a number 

 of laterals as well as leaders varying in diameter from two 

 to six inches or larger makes it practicable to resort to 

 extremes in severe cutting back, should it be necessary. The 

 smaller limbs will be the first to start vigorously and con- 

 serve the vitality of the tree and afford protection to the 

 larger limbs until the new wood starts to grow. One of the 

 important points to be observed in this treatment of old trees 

 is to cover the body and limbs with a heavy coating of white- 

 wash, and shade with burlap in addition to this in climates 

 where there are extremes of hot weather during the summer 

 months. For the first few years following this cutting back 

 of large limbs the new growth should be shortened in 

 severely rather than to be thinned out, for the greater the 

 shade the more responsive will be the vigor of the new 

 . "-hoots, and the less danger there will be from sun-burn. Of 

 all things, every precaution must be taken to prevent this. 



For further detailed information on the olive, -write for a 

 copy of our Bulletin on the olive. It is free. 



THE ORANGE 



Taking its inception in the warm belt of the Southern 

 counties of the State, citrus culture has gradually found its 

 way farther north, until at the present writing, oranges and 

 lemons are grown within the very shadow of Mount Shasta; 

 in Arizona notably the Salt River Valley and in many por- 

 tions of Old Mexico. The sheltered nooks and interior valleys 

 of the Sierras, the thermal belts in Placer, Kern and Tulare 

 counties, the regions free from biting frosts in the great 

 valleys of the San Joaquin and Sacramento, all furnish condi- 

 tions in which the orange and the lemon luxuriate. 



That citrus culture is one of the great and growing indus- 

 tries of California can no longer be questioned when it is 

 borne in mind that the shipments are $40,000,000.00 and over 

 annually. 



Citrus trees are either dug with a ball of earth varying 

 in weight from 25 to 40 pounds, or they are taken up with 

 naked roots. The former method is usually followed in 

 handling trees in California. Freight charges on stock hand- 

 led in this manner are heavy, still the satisfaction of knowing 

 that with ordinary care every tree will grow, offsets the 

 slight additional expense incurred in transportation charges. 

 Trees taken up in this way can if necessary be kept in a shed 

 for several months before planting, if the balls of earth 

 are watered occasionally. In taking up trees with naked 

 roots the greatest care should be exercised on the part of the 

 orchardist to avoid exposure. When set, the leaves should 

 be stripped off to retard evaporation and loss of sap in conse- 

 quence. In planting set the trees so that when the soil is 

 settled the union of the bud with the stock will be at least 

 four inches above the ground. 



The same tree 



pruned and thinned 



out sufficiently to 



promote increased 



vigor. 



This tree, with its 



abundance of 



well distributed 



laterals, will have a 



fine crop of fruit. 



25 



