442 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



Preparation of land for orange planting by deep and thorough 

 cultivation and laying off to secure straight rows by the square, 

 quincunx, and hexagonal methods have been quite fully discussed 

 in Chapter X, and Chapter XI has suggestions for planting, many 

 of which are applicable to the setting of orange trees. There are, 

 however, special methods employed in lifting the orange trees from 

 the nursery rows and in placing them in permanent position, which 

 will be outlined. 



The orange, in common with other evergreen trees, is exceed- 

 ingly sensitive to exposure of its roots, and for this reason the 

 handling of the young trees is very different from that of ordinary 

 orchard trees. Three ways are employed for securing this constant 

 moisture of the roots, as follows : 



Packing in Wet Straw. As fast as the trees are lifted from the 

 nursery ground by digging carefully so as to loosen and secure all 

 the roots possible, they are packed in damp and partially rotten 

 straw, proper receptacles being at hand so that the roots are not 

 exposed by carrying them any distance. In taking up, all roots 

 bruised by the spade are cleanly cut with a sharp knife. The tap- 

 root is cut away at a depth of a foot or so from the surface. This 

 use of wet straw, if faithfully carried out, will answer well in taking 

 trees short distances for planting, but the use of a puddle on tne 

 roots before packing in damp straw gives additional assurance 01 

 success. 



Puddling the Roots. This method is also used for deciduous 

 fruit trees, as mentioned in Chapter XL It consists in having a thin 

 puddling of loamy soil with preponderance of sand rather than of 

 clay, into which the roots are dipped as soon as the tree is lifted 

 from the nursery. This mixture, which should be about as thick as 

 cream, may be made in a hole in the ground, or, better still, in a 

 box or cask large enough to allow complete plunging of the roots. 

 As soon as dipped, and with all the mud which will adhere, the roots 

 are packed in wet straw. If the trees are to remain thus packed 

 for any length of time, the greatest care must be observed to keep 

 the straw damp, and water must be applied gently to avoid washing 

 the puddle from the roots. 



Sacking the Roots with a Ball of Earth. This is a very satis- 

 factory way to move orange trees, and if it is well done, the tree 

 does not wilt, and may be moved long distances and handled more 

 freely than the puddled roots. To ball and sack trees, dig a trench 

 along one side of the row about six inches away from the trees, 

 and about a foot and a half deep. By careful digging under each 

 tree from this trench the tap-root is reached, and severed by a cut 

 with a sharp spade. The side roots are also cut by thrusting the 

 spade down on the three sides not opened by the trench. The top 



