24 



fruit than well known Florida varieties which would 

 indicate that varieties better adapted to the West Indies 

 may be found. That however should not induce planters 

 to buy native varieties unless t'hay know the origin, be- 

 cause there are a number of so called grapefruits in the 

 West Indies that are nothing more than improved types 

 of the shaddock. 



HOW TO PLANT A TREE 



There are seemingly more mistakes made in planting 

 trees than in any other operation connected with the 

 business. If it were not for that this chapter would not 

 have to be included. The following directions if followed 

 will obviate any mistakes in planting. Dig the holes 

 large and deep. Fill the soil in again with the t^p 

 soil and vegetable matter in the bottom and heap it up. 

 Leave it for some weeks until perfectly settled. When 

 planting the tree without a ball of earth use a planting 

 board, that is, a board 6 to 8 feet long with a notch in 

 the middle and a block under each end. Make an ex- 

 cavation in the previously prepared hole. Place the board 

 over this with the blocks resting on the level ground. 

 Insert the tree in the notch with the roots close to the 

 board. Then fill the soil in around the roots and firm 

 it down weld, using plenty of water. In this way tlie 

 tree will stand as high above the level of the soil as the 

 thickness of the blocks under the board. In sandy soil 

 these blacks may be but 3 to 4 inches thick according 

 to whether the soil is very wet or not. In soft and very 

 wet .soil the trees settle more than in drier soil. In clay soil 

 when planting in rainy weather the blocks should be 6 

 inches thick, because the trees will settle a great deal 



