ORANGE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 79 



the tree. Nearly all kinds of plants, deprived of the unobscured 

 light of the sun, make a pale, sickly and unnatural growth. 

 Plenty of sunshine (the more the better), with an ample supply 

 of moisture and thorough cultivation, are the prime requisites 

 to promote a quick, healthy and vigorous growth, and to cause 

 us to realize the full fruition of our hopes in the size, quality and 

 general excellence of the product. I believe in high pruning 

 and recommend it. The trees should at the same time be 

 trained to grow stocky, with a strong, healthy trunk, which it 

 will be difficult to attain by constant and persistent pruning. I 

 think the plan of depriving an orange tree, four, five or six feet 

 high, of all its limbs, except a little tuft at the top, necessitating 

 the use of a stake to support it a method practiced by some 

 orchardists is the most pernicious of all. This makes a vice 

 out of the virtue of high pruning. Before young trees are trans- 

 planted to the orchard they should be allowed plenty of limbs, 

 which make them develop a stocky trunk and a large quantity 

 of roots. When about to be planted in an orchard, they may be 

 deprived of a portion of their lower limbs, and then be pruned 

 up gradually till a horse or mule can pass readily under the 

 branches. This is about the best rule to guide the orange- 

 grower. When, after years of growth, or from heavy bearing, 

 branches become too low, the ends can be trimmed from under- 

 neath till the orchard will present a regular and uniform appear- 

 ance. Properly trained orange trees do not need stakes to 

 support them ; they will support themselves, and with a little 

 assistance they will grow symmetrically and well proportioned. 



The center of the top of an orange tree, more particularly of 

 one that is fruiting, should receive an annual pruning of the 

 superfluous inner branches, and such a cutting out of the inside 

 limbs as will leave the inside of the top open and clean, and 

 admit air and sunlight throughout the interior of the tree. All 

 branches inclined to grow out so as to present an unsightly ap- 

 pearance must be cut back. 



If the foregoing rules be observed, the orchard will always be 

 in order to receive visitors, and will present to tourists exam- 

 ining our country an appearance that will cause the owner to 

 feel proud of his arboreal possessions, and, what is of still more 



