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for two years in the seed-bed before they are transplanted. 

 Transplanting should be done at the dormant period of the 

 plants, i. e., when only old leaves abound on the seedlings 

 and when growth is not going on vigorously. Injury to roots, 

 specially the tap-root, should be avoided as much as possible, 

 in lifting the seedlings. Water-logging at the base, after 

 transplanting, must be avoided or else the seedlings will sicken 

 and die. If there is considerable injury to roots at the time 

 of transplanting, some of the branches and most of the leaves 

 should be cut off. October and November are better months 

 for transplanting than June and July. In the former case, 

 however, irrigation or watering will be needed until next May 

 or June. The other operations that help growth of the plants 

 are hoeing and mulching (straw or litter being applied). 

 Mulching protects the plants from the effect of excessive heat 

 and drought, and also prevents caking of the soil. The 

 mulch should be applied after the hoeing, and watering should 

 be done over the mulch. 



794. We have no very superior varieties of orange in 

 India. The seedless orange of California is the best variety 

 to grow. This must be propagated by budding or grafting. 

 The importation of this variety and its acclimatization by 

 budding or grafting on the wild orange of Sylhet or Sikkim, 

 are desirable. The net profits from an acre of seedless 

 oranges in California often come up to 250 to 300 dollars 

 (about Rs. 800) per acre, and there is no reason why some 

 Indian planters should not make a new departure in this 

 direction. 



