THE ORANGE IN CALIFORNIA PROPAGATION. 89 



they may be shipped long distances and, when planted, nearly 

 all live, but from observation of the experience of various 

 planters we have concluded that the only safe plan is to buy 

 your trees from the nearest nursery and superintend the digging 

 of them yourself. After your trees are planted in orchard form 

 they should be watered and thoroughly cultivated every thirty 

 days during the dry season. In the rainy season cultivate 

 enough to keep down the weeds." 



*" J. H. Reed, whose systematic methods and habit of care- 

 ful observation peculiarly fit him for successful experimental 

 work, has demonstrated to the members of this club, and to 

 the satisfaction of various other careful observers, the value of 

 the following methods in transplanting orange and lemon 

 trees: 



" First In taking up the trees the roots should be protected 

 by a ball of earth; 



" Second That, to the satisfaction of various careful ob- 

 servers the most essential factor in tree growth, should be 

 preserved as far as possible; 



" Third Where it is practicable, the tree should be trans- 

 ferred to its new home immediately after the taproot is cut, 

 and loose earth carefully filled around it; 



<; Fourth Let water in furrows follow the planters and fill 

 the holes, thoroughly settling fine earth around the balls or 

 roots. 



"By carefully observing these points, if the nursery is near 

 by, every leaf may be saved, and the tree will resume the work 

 of growth almost immediately. Examination in a day or 

 two after planting will show a large number of fibrous roots 

 reaching out from the ball into the new soil around it. A 

 small amount of well-rotted manure placed near the roots, but 

 not immediately touching the ball, will assist in giving a 

 vigorous growth. 



"The evidence from actual observation and experience is 

 conclusive that trees thus treated will make a growth the first 

 year which cannot be approximated if the trees are taken up 

 with bare roots. Indeed, if the leaves wilt and mostly drop, 

 the tree will seldom do more the first year than reclothe itself, 

 and will be a year later in coming into bearing. 



*From report of committee, by J. M. Edmison, to Riverside Horticul- 

 tural Club, February, 1899. 



