THE NURSERY-LIST 371 



Sour orange seeds will run about 2100 to the quart, rough lemon 

 about 6500 to the quart, grapefruit about 1400, and Poncirus 

 trifoliata about 2600 to the quart. Sour orange seed weighs 32 

 pounds to the bushel after slight drying. It is usual to estimate 

 double the number of seeds for the seedlings desired. 



Citrus seeds are easily spoiled by drying, the cotyledons separate 

 and they are then worthless. They can be stored for several weeks 

 or even months if packed in a closed container or box in pulverized 

 charcoal. They should be planted immediately after removing from 

 the seed, or properly packed and examined from time to time to see 

 that they do not dry out. 



In citrus nursery districts, the seeds are sown in winter or early 

 spring, either in the open or under slat shades. The young seedlings 

 are easily injured by hot sun and dry winds, and therefore should 

 be well started before spring is far advanced, if planted in the open. 

 The young seedlings of citrus are sometimes killed back to the 

 ground, and when so injured do not sprout out again, but those of 

 poncirus will start again from buds on the tiny stems, below the 

 ground. The seed is sown in rows much as apple or garden seeds 

 are sown, at the rate of about 100 to the yard of row. Clean cultiva- 

 tion, applications of commercial fertilizer and plenty of water are 

 necessary for the production of good sturdy seedlings The use of 

 stable manure as a fertilizer is not advisable because of increased 

 danger from damping-off fungi. 



After one or two years in the seed-bed, the seedlings are trans- 

 planted to the nursery rows. The rows are usually spaced 3^ 

 or 4 feet apart and the seedlings are set 1 foot apart in the rows, 

 giving about 10,000 seedlings to the acre. Roadways are left at 

 convenient intervals for the passage of teams and wagons. Trans- 

 planting from seed-beds to nursery rows is usually done in early 

 spring or during summer, if suitable rainy weather prevails or if 

 water is available for irrigating. 



Shield-budding, with buds about If inches long, is the 

 method employed. Sometimes the T-incision is inverted and 

 the bud is inserted from below. This is the method commonly 

 followed in Florida. The buds are usually wrapped with waxed 

 cloth, the bud and all incisions being covered. The wraps are 

 commonly left on from ten days to two weeks depending on 

 growth and weather conditions. The seedlings are dormant-budded 

 just before growth ceases in autumn or in early spring. Better 

 growth can be secured from dormant buds as they have the advan- 



