Preparing the Ground 



San Dimas, California 



nursery is wanted, the ground having previously been staked off in 

 rows the desired distance apart, and over the wire run some kind 

 of an implement to mark off the distance apart the plants are 



CITRUS TRIFOLIATA SEEDLING STOCK. 

 Nursery rows nine months from planting. 



to be set. An implement of this kind can be made by taking a 

 wheel and nailing or bolting on to it at intervals the distance 

 apart the plants are to be set small cross pieces of wood or iron. 

 This, when run over the wire, will make impressions in the ground 

 where each plant is to be set. The ground should be moist 

 enough so as to open properly when using a sharp tool or dibble 

 for the purpose of placing the roots of each plant in the soil. 

 After the marker has been run over the wire, it can then be taken 

 up and moved to the next row or stakes where the row is to be, 

 and thus be out of the way of the workmen in planting the one 

 previously marked. The usual distance apart for setting the 

 plants is from twelve to eighteen inches, with the rows four feet 

 apart. It is best to have the rows four feet or more apart so as 

 to allow ample room for cultivation without breaking off any of 

 the young buds, and also room for a small sled to be run between 

 the rows in taking the trees to the ends of the rows when ready 

 for market. Planting too close together in the rows, is apt to 

 make the trees inferior in size, and if it is intended to ball stock 

 planted in this manner, it is not possible to cut out as large a 

 ball of earth with the root system as it would be if planted further 

 apart. 



PRUNING THE NURSERY PLANTS. Plants should be 

 pruned but very little the first six months after being set in 

 nursery form. It is a better plan to rub the sprouts off with the 

 thumb and finger up to four or six inches above the surface of 

 the ground during this period. This space leaves sufficient room 

 for budding purposes. If the plants are thus properly sprouted 

 from the beginning, it will not be necessary to use a pruning 

 knife but little at a later period. 



BUDDING. If a good quality of plants have been set, and 

 the season favorable, they will be ready to bud the following fall 



after planting; on the contrary, if conditions have been against 

 the plants, it is sometimes necessary to carry them two years in 

 the nursery row before budding. Nursery stock of this kind is 

 usually budded in the fall of the year, from September to Decem- 

 ber, much depending, however, on the condition of the weather 

 and the plants. By experience it has been found that Citrus 

 Trifoliata plants, being of a somewhat deciduous nature, should 

 be budded early in September to insure a good stand of buds. 

 The sap goes down in this variety earlier than in other seedling 

 stocks. Sweet Seedling and Sour Orange stocks can be budded 

 later, with the Seedling Pomelo and Rough Lemon stocks much 

 later than either if desired. In spring budding, to insure a good 

 sized tree, it is best to bud as early as possible or just as soon as 

 the plants are in condition to admit of the buds being inserted 

 in good shape. Fall buds are preferable owing to the fact of 

 their being established in the stock, and will thus start to grow 

 on the first flow of sap in the "spring. They have the advantage 

 over the spring budding by about one or two growths. To insure 

 the buds starting immediately, a great many nurserymen follow 



A PERFECTLY GROWN ONE- YEAR BUDDED TREE. 



the system of cutting the seedlings off anywhere from two to six 

 inches, directly above the bud. This will force the entire flow of 

 sap in the young bud and it will grow much more rapidly. This 

 method also has a tendency of forcing all the buds out evenly. 



