ROEDING'S FRUIT GROWERS' GUIDE 



61 



The check method of irrigating. 



soaked in water and the surplus of moisture is either 

 squeezed out of it with the hands or by passing it 

 through a clothes wringer. If the trees are properly 

 packed they will carry several months in the very best 

 of condition. 



METHOD OF PLANTING 



Set the tree so that when the soil settles, the union 

 of the bud with the stock will be at least a couple of 

 inches above the ground. Be sure to settle the soil 

 around the tree with water whether planting naked- 

 root trees or balled. This should be done as soon after 

 planting as possible, and if the weather is warm it is 

 best to have the water following the planting, so that 

 but a few minutes will intervene between the time of 

 planting and the time the water reaches the tree. 



When planting naked-root trees have the water in 

 the holes first, then settle the tree and fill in with earth 

 gradually and spread out the lateral roots with the 

 hands, so that they will be in about the same position 

 as they grew in the nursery. It is often best to use a 

 tank wagon for the first irrigation of naked-root trees. 



In filling in the hole around a balled tree never tramp 

 on top of the ball, as it will break it and dislodge the 

 fibrous roots, and in many instances cause the tree to 

 die. After the hole in which the balled tree is planted 

 is partially filled, cut the cord at the top 

 of the ball and turn down the burlap, so 

 that it will be completely buried when the 

 remainder of the hole is filled in. If this 

 is not done the cultivator teeth are apt to 

 catch on the burlap and will oftentimes 

 pull the tree out of the ground or disturb 

 it to such an extent that it will die before 

 the trouble is detected. It is not neces- 

 sary to remove the burlap from the ball; 

 if properly turned down it will soon rot. 



After the trees are planted and irrigated 

 and before the earth has become firm 

 around them, they should be carefully 

 gone over, as more or less of them will 

 settle to one side or the other, and unless 

 straightened up right away will give the 

 orchard a bad appearance. It will also be 



found that some of the trees have settled 

 more than others; these should be raised 

 before the earth becomes firm around 

 them. 



Newly planted trees should be given a 

 light irrigation every ten days or two 

 weeks until they begin to make some 

 growth. After that it is not necessary to 

 irrigate quite as often. They may be left 

 from three to four weeks, according to 

 the weather. 



Never allow young trees to want for 

 water. If they should show signs of being 

 dry, give them a light irrigation right 

 away. After the trees have been planted 

 a year they should not be irrigated quite 

 so often. If properly cultivated, one 

 irrigation every month or six weeks is 

 sufficient. In fact, trees will do better if only irrigated 

 once every six weeks, provided the ground is kept 

 thoroughly cultivated between irrigations. The planter 

 should bear in mind the fact that thorough cultiva- 

 tion is just as essential as irrigation. Care should 

 be exercised to prevent the water from standing any 

 length of time around the stem of the tree. In heavy 

 soil this is almost sure to cause gum disease. In addi- 

 tion to cultivation for the purpose of filling in the irri- 

 gation furrows, newly planted trees should be carefully 

 hoed after each watering, so as to avoid the possibility 

 of the ground baking or cracking. 



STOCKS FOR CITRUS TREES 



In order to meet soil and climatic conditions in differ- 

 ent sections, citrus trees are budded on the following 

 stocks: Sweet Orange (Citrus Aurantium Dultis), Sour 

 Orange (Citrus Aurantium Amara) and Deciduous 

 Orange (Citrus Trifoliata). On the first-named sort 

 the budded trees outgrow those on any other root, and 

 practically all the old groves of the state are worked on 

 this stock and are thrifty and healthy, except when 

 situated on soils where there is an excess of moisture 

 during certain seasons. Sweet Orange seedlings are 

 grown from the seed of the common sweet seedling 

 orange. Sour Orange seedlings are grown from the seed 



The furrow method of irrigating. 



