ITS CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 



two opposite ends to define the rows. 

 Then stretch a rope or chain across the 

 ground from stake to stake, and along 

 this line plant the trees a foot apart. 



Various labor-saving methods are in 

 vogue for spacing oft' the ground along 

 the line, but none more ingenious and 

 practical than that recommended by Mr. 

 Thomas A. Garey in his pioneer work on 

 California orange culture, lie says: "For 

 marking the spaces in the row, use a tool 

 made similar to a hand- roller with trian- 

 gular pieces a few inches long fastened 

 lengthwise and a foot apart. Four feet in 

 circumference, or a small fraction more 

 than fifteen and one-fourth inches in di- 

 ameter, is a convenient size for the roller. 

 To use this tool, take hold of the handles, 

 place the roller on the tightly-stretched 

 line, and push it forward or draw it after 

 you along the line; the pieces on the roller 

 will mark crosswise of the line at regular 

 distances of a foot. If any other distance 

 be desired, it can be regulated by the di- 

 ameter of the roller and the distance be- 

 tween the strips. Remove the line to the 

 next proposed row. This leaves a mark 

 lengthwise crossed at regular distances, 

 ready to receive the plants." 



This implement is available in planting 

 large nurseries. For a small nursery, of 

 course, the labor of making the roller 

 would be greater than the marking oft' by 

 Home more clumsy method. 



PLANTING. The accepted time for plant- 

 ing a nursery is in April and May, when 

 damp, cool weather is apt to prevail. But, 

 with proper safeguards, planting may be 

 done in almost any month of the year 

 when there is no danger from frost or 

 very excessive heat. If your trees are 

 propagated as mine were, in boxes, trans- 

 planting is simple and sure. The work- 

 man carries a box with him along the line 

 and transfers each tree, with its ball of 

 earth inclosing the roots, to a place in the 

 row. 



The implement used for this is the in- 

 vention of Judge R. M. Widney, of Los 

 Angeles, and known as the Widney trans- 

 planter. Not only is it a great' labor-sav- 

 ing device, but its use amounts almost to 

 a guaranty of the life of the plant. With 

 it I set a nursery of 4000 trees in the 

 months of June and July. Very hot 



weather followed, and the trees were not 

 shaded, yet my loss did not exceed one 

 per cent. 



THE WIDNEY TRANSPLANTER. The ac- 

 companying cut represents the trans- 

 p lanter com- 

 plete. The cyl- 

 inder ^1 is first 

 used to cut a 

 hole, />, in the 

 ground where 

 you wish to set 

 the plant. Next 

 the transplanter 

 is set down over 

 t ho plant, so that 

 t.he stem and' 

 leaves run up 

 TRANSPLANTER COM- within theins4de 

 PLETE. cylinder J5. Tne- 



outside cylinder is then passed down into- 

 the ground, giving it a slight rotary mo- 

 tion, until you have cut to the depth de- 

 sired, generally two or four inches. In 

 pressing down on the handles care mast 

 be taken to keep the hands off the inside 

 cylinder B, which must be left to move- 

 freely. The rotary motion gives a sharp, 

 drawing cut. 



After cutting down around the plant to> 

 the depth required, lift the transplanter 

 out of the ground. It 

 will bring up the plant 

 with a solid plug of 

 earth, C, inside t he- 

 cylinder. Now put 

 the transplanter 001*- 

 taining the plant into* 

 the hole in the ground 

 Z>, first cut. Set it 

 down to the bottom of 

 the hole, so that the 

 bottom of the plug of 

 earth rests on the bot- 

 tom of the hole; place 

 INSIDE CYLINDER, the two thumbs on top 

 of the inside cylinder, retaining the hold on 

 the handles with the fingers, and close tbe^ 

 hand, thus drawing up the outside cylin- 

 der, while the inside cylinder thus holds 

 the plug of dirt in the hole. The plug of 

 dirt is thus forced out of the transplanter 

 as the wad is forced out of a pop-gun. 

 When this is done, the plant, with a solid 

 plug of earth, C, will: be left in a hole sur- 



