92 ORANGE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 



producing two thousand specimens of fruit, will be more remu- 

 nerative if one-half of the fruit, and probably two-thirds of it, be 

 removed at the time of setting or very soon thereafter; besides, 

 fine-flavored fruits will build up a reputation in the markets of 

 the world, while small, sour fruit will ruin one. Allowing the 

 tree to mature all the fruit that sets has a direct influence on 

 the constitution of the tree, dwarfing it amazingly, and perhaps 

 permanently in some instances. 



Seedlings are in full bearing when they are from twelve to 

 fourteen years old. A budded orchard of the earliest fruiting 

 varieties will bear abundantly and remuneratively when the 

 buds are six or seven years old. At what age they attain their 

 best bearing condition is not known here, as our budded trees 

 are all quite young. 



It is safe to say that a seedling orchard of ten-year-old trees 

 will, at present prices, pay all expenses and net the owner a fair 

 marginal profit. Budded trees will do the same at five years 

 from the bud, if budded on three-year-old stocks. The yield 

 thereafter increases with surprising rapidity. 



