54 



Bearing trees should receive essentially the same treat- 

 ment as young trees during the first few years, with the 

 exception that fertilizer formula No. 2 should 'be used and 

 the quantity should be gradually increased reaching 15 

 Ibs. per tree on light soil by the time the tree is 6 years 

 old. On soil naturally rich in vegetable matter or one 

 producing large crops of legumes, formula No. 3 should 

 be used. 



It is usually understood that a citrus tree will begin 

 to bear when three years old, and it will do so if treated 

 as here recommended. If however the tree is neglected a 

 planter is lucky if he can harvest fruit in quantity at 

 the end of 5 years. 



The fruit from a three year old tree may be of good 

 quality, but it usually is not so unless the tree has be <n 

 properly fertilized. The quality depends somewhat on 

 the variety but most grapefruit varieties are apt to be 

 pearshaped and pithy and orange varieties such as the 

 navel for instance are seldom at their best before the 

 second or third or fourth crop although with irrigation 

 and potash fertilizer they may be all right the first crop. 

 If the tree is healthy and vigorous it will be able to carry 

 all the fruit it sets. If it is in any way injured, it may 

 set more fruit than it can mature without injury to it- 

 self, and in such cases the fruit should of course be thin- 

 ned out or all taken off. 



If local wind protection has been used it should be cut 

 out when the trees reach the age of 4 to 5 years, because 

 then they should be large enough to protect one another. 

 After 6 years the method of cultivation may in some 

 cases be changed. Large trees of that age will have the 

 root system extending all through the soil and the two 



