280 



NUTS AND SUBTROPICAL FRUITS 



in southern Texas, the round oranges are also grown on a commer- 

 cial scale. 



Propagation. — Almost all the old seedlings are giving way to 

 plantations of budded trees. This is especially true in California. 

 Stocks are produced by planting fresh seeds. In California the 

 sour oranges and grapefruits are much used as stocks. In addition 

 to these the rough lemon and the trifoliate orange are used in 

 Florida and the Mississippi and Rio Grande regions. Oranges 

 budded on the trifoliate stocks will endure frost the best. 



Shield budding is commonly used for all the varieties. The 

 budding may all be done in fall, winter, or early spring and summer. 



Fig. 195. — Valencia oranges of California are the most popular of the seed-bearing varieties. 

 They are almost seedless. (U.S.D.A.) 



The nearly dormant condition of trees is preferred in Florida. 

 The buds are inserted about two to six inches from the ground. 

 This is preferably done under lattice work. 



Setting the Orchard. — Trees one or two years old from the bud- 

 ding are usually used in starting orchards. The distances between 

 trees varies from 20 by 20 to 25 by 25 feet. 



Soils used for orchards are quite variable in character. But 

 the stocks on which the trees are grown should be adapted to the 

 character of soil. Commercial fertilizers are commonly used in 

 the best orchards. 



Pruning. — When buds are well started the nursery trees are cut 

 above the bud. The new shoots from the buds are cut at a height 



