34 



CHAPTER X. 



PRUNING. 



" *- n 



As a whole no class of fruit trees require less 

 pruning than citrus trees. At the time of planting \ 

 the young trees should be cut down to about 18 

 inches to 2 foot. When growth commences young 

 shoots will spring out all along the stem. All shoots 

 below a foot from the ground should be rubbed off, 

 thus allowing a clean stem of at least a foot where the 

 trees have been cut back to 18 inches. Where the 

 trees have been left 2 feet high a clean stem of 18 

 inches should be left. Some years ago it was the 

 custom to grow high -headed trees having a bare 

 trunk of 4 feet or over. 



Experience having proved that high -headed trees 

 are more liable to suffer from strong winds, more 

 liable to have their stems injured from sun burn, and 

 that the fruit was not so cheaply to gather as from 

 low-headed trees, some citrus growers went to the 

 other extreme, and headed their trees but a few 

 inches above the bud. This made for a low, bushy 

 tree, with branches very close to the ground, which 

 brought a portion of the fruit into contact with the 

 earth, and with the limbs so low as to be in the way 

 of horse cultivation. It was therefore found that 

 a clean stem of about 18 inches in height gave the 

 best results. 



Citrus trees usually make from two to four growths 

 during the season. The growth of young trees is 

 often so rapid that it cannot support) itself , and bends 

 down until it touches the ground. It is not advisable 

 to have the branches as low as this, as on frosty nights 



