How to Plant 35 



are in good condition, may be left in the boxes until 

 planting time, care being taken to place the boxes 

 in a cool and shady place, the tops kept covered up, 

 and ample supplies of water given to the roots ^and 

 tops. If it is not intended to plant for some time, 

 or if the leaves of the trees are limp, the trees 

 should be taken out of the cases and heeled in in a 

 shady place. Plenty of water should be given to 

 both the roots and foliage, and the tops left covered 

 with hessian. 



Before planting, the roots should be shortened 

 back and all broken roots removed. In cutting back 

 the tops it is not advisable to head the trees too low. 

 Clean stems of about 18 inches are more desirable 

 than shorter stems, on account of the limbs of low- 

 headed trees, being nearer the ground, getting in the 

 way of the cultivator. Besides this, the fruit of 

 low-headed trees is apt to come in contact with the 

 earth, and is therefore liable to be spoiled. Trees 

 having long clean stems should have their stems 

 protected by straw or hessian loosely tied around 

 them for the first summer to prevent injury from 

 sun scald, which covering may be removed in early 

 autumn. Trees that have been headed low in the 

 nursery should have all drooping growth removed, 

 and pruned to upward growing branches, and under 

 all circumstances all unripe shoots should be cut 

 off. 



Citrus are best planted with an irrigation, the 

 water running along the furrows and being led into 

 the holes while the trees are being planted. Care 

 must be taken that the trees are not planted deeper 

 than they stood in the nursery if anything a little 

 higher to allow for settling as citrus do not do well 

 if deeply planted. 



When taking the trees out to be planted, the roots 

 should be kept covered with a damp bag or piece 



