CITRUS FRUITS 



141 



using a cut of an inverted T shape and pushing the buds up, being careful 

 to have the leaf-scar of the bud downward. In citrus propagation, espe- 

 cially in the dry, arid sections of the Southwest, it is desirable to use strips 

 of waxed cloth to wrap the buds, covering the buds entirely with the 

 wrapping. The wrapping must remain on until the buds are thoroughly 

 healed on, which will require about three weeks. The California method 

 of forcing the buds is to cut the tops entirely off about an inch or so above 

 the bud. In Florida the trees are cut half off above the bud and lopped over 

 into the row, being allowed to remain until the sprout is a foot or so high. 

 Care of the Nursery Stock. As the buds develop into sprouts, stakes 

 must be set beside them, and the sprouts tied to the stake at frequent inter- 



a b C d 



SHIELD OR EYE BUDDING. * 

 A Incision on stock. B Incision with lower ends of bark raised for inserting the bud. 



C Bud partly inserted, 

 waxed cloth. 



D Bud inserted ready to wrap. E Bud wrapped with 



vals to insure straight trees. A single sprout is usually allowed to grow 

 until it is about three feet high, and then it is headed back to about 30 

 inches or slightly lower. In forming the crown, three or four main branches 

 arc allowed to grow, and it is important for the strength of the tree that 

 these should be on different sides of the young tree and 3 or 4 inches apart. 

 Trees are set at one year or two years from the bud. In California and 

 Arizona, owing to the dry conditions, nursery trees designed for shipment 

 are usually balled. A trench about a foot wide and 14 inches deep is dug 

 alongside of the row of trees, and the tap-root cut and the trees lifted with a 

 ball of earth remaining around the roots. The ball and roots are then 



1 From Farmers' Bulletin 539, U. S. Dept. of Agriculture. 



