216 STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



early bloom is the size of a pea, and the trees are still in bloom. 

 In dry districts perhaps nine other waterings will be given. 



Pruning and Trimming. — In a former article, in speaking 

 of the training of lemon trees in Sicily, I used two terms — 

 "pruning" and "trimming." These must be explained, or 

 they may lead to misunderstanding. 



By trimming (" rimondaments ") is meant the removal of all 

 dry twigs, suckers, water shoots, stunted or rank growth, and 



Sicilian lemon trees planted on side hills 



twigs which have borne and become exhausted. This is done 

 in the winter, and should he carefully attended to every year. 



In addition to this about every three years the trees are 

 gone over more thoroughlj^, and thinned out after the main 

 crop is gathered. This is called pruning, and should not be 

 required to any great extent if the trimming has been properly 

 done. The object is to maintain an open tree, into which light 

 and air can freely penetrate as a preventive of disease and so 

 that the fruit may be evenly distributed on the inner as well 

 as on the outer branches. 



It must not be understood that the Sicilian lemon trees are 

 pruned with open centers, for that would be quite misleading. 



