CITRUS FRUITS 



177 



grown from seeds, but now they are propagated by 

 budding the desired varieties to seedlings. It is evident 

 that seedless oranges cannot be grown from seeds. 

 When the orange trees are set out, they are trimmed 

 back, so that the branches start out from the trunk at 

 a distance of two 

 or three feet above 

 the ground. 



Cultivation. The 

 orange and lemon 

 orchards are culti- 

 vated in the same 

 way. The ground 

 is kept covered with 

 a loose soil mulch 

 by frequent culti- 

 vation, so that there 

 will be only a slight 

 loss of soil moisture. 

 In the western cit- 

 rus section the or- 

 chards must be 

 irrigated. In the southern belt the orchards are not 

 irrigated, for the rainfall is sufficient. 



Uses. Oranges are generally eaten in their nat- 

 ural state, although "they are sometimes preserved. A 

 drink called orangeade is made from the juice of the 

 orange. The juice of the lemon is used for flavoring 

 foods and also for making lemonade. 



B. AND D. AG. 12 



ORANGE TREE 



