BUD VARIATION IN THE LISBON LEMON. 67 



have healed. The limbs should then be cut off about 6 inches above 

 the buds and all other branches removed from the tree. In some 

 instances, as shown in figure 13, one limb of the original top, known 

 as a nurse limb, is allowed to remain in order to preserve somewhat 

 the balance of the tree. It is questionable, however, whether any- 

 thing is gained when this method is followed, as just as good results 

 have been observed in the course of these investigations where all the 

 lunbs are cut back to a point about 6 inches above the buds. The 

 cut surface should be immediately covered with grafting wax, as- 

 phaltum, or some other protective material. The trunk and main 

 branches are protected from sun injuries by a coat of whitewash. 



An unproductive tree of the Villa Franca variety which has been 

 top-worked with bud wood from a productive tree of the Lisbon 

 strain is shown in figure 14. This tree is comparable with the one 

 shown in figure 13, with the exception that the young top represents 

 10 months' growth. In about a year from budding, or when the 

 tree is in the condition shown in figure 14, the stubs of the rebudded 

 limbs should be cut back again, making a smooth, sloping cut, and 

 leaving only one sprout from one bud on each limb. The cut sur- 

 faces should be covered with grafting wax or some similar material. 

 The young top-worked trees must be closely watched for several 

 years and all sprouts from below the buds removed; if not, the young 

 top will include branches from the original unproductive top and the 

 whole object of top-working will be defeated. Under normal con- 

 ditions the top-worked tree with selected buds from superior parent 

 trees should begin bearing the second year after rebudding, and in 

 the third and fourth years should bear good commercial crops. 



REPLACING UNDESIRABLE TREES IN BEARING ORCHARDS. 



In many old bearing orchards undesirable or unhealthy trees are 

 frequently found, and it is often more economical to replace these 

 trees with younger ones from selected buds rather than to top-work 

 them. Owing to lack of attention to details, until quite recently it 

 had been generally assumed that such replanting would prove un- 

 successful. Experience has shown, however, that when proper care 

 is used undesirable lemon trees in old orchards can be replaced with 

 young trees grown from selected buds. 



The undesirable or diseased trees should be removed from the or- 

 chard during the late summer or early fall, and immediately after 

 the older trees have been taken out holes should be dug for the new 

 trees. These should be at least 5 feet in diameter and from 2 to 3 

 feet in depth. The holes should then be filled with good topsoil 

 which has been mixed with well-rotted manure. The loose soil and 

 manure should be allowed to settle in the holes during the winter and 

 early-spring months. In placing the soil in the holes a sufiicient 



