THE ORANGE. 623 



down, or a twig may be inserted between bark and wood in 

 a diagonal incision at the side without cutting off the top. 



The fruitfulness and stamina of the future tree, in a great 

 measure, depend upon the selection of the buds from which 

 it is produced. It is commonly believed that a bud from a 

 bearing branch will bear sooner and more abundantly than 

 one from a watershoot or sucker. This theory is scarcely 

 borne ,out by experience. A watershoot, after running up to 

 the top of the tree and putting out branches, will often be 

 found the next year weighted down with masses of fruit. 

 Therefore a bud from a watershoot is just as likely to be fer- 

 tile, and more likely to be vigorous, the same as a bud from 

 near the end of a thrifty shoot. Buds near the base of a scion 

 are apt to make trees with fewer thorns, but less vigorous. 

 A-gain, buds from fruit-bearing twigs early in the season may 

 be slightly affected by strange pollen absorbed through the 

 bloom. This accounts for cases of so-called bud variation. 

 Therefore buds from a thrifty non-bearing branch of a fruitful 

 tree" are the best guarantee of vigor and productiveness. No 

 doubt there are a few buds on every tree that are naturally 

 and unaccountably barren, and when these are unfortunately 

 used an unprofitable tree is the result. Here and there such 

 a one may be found in every grove. For these there is no 

 remedy but working over again. 



The sour orange, or bigarrade, bei,nns to bear at an earlier 

 age than the sweet, and is naturally a smaller tree. Hav- 

 ing a hardy constitution, it is commonly preferred as a 

 stock. It begins to bear in two or three years after bud- 

 ding, and, as it is only by this means that distinct varie- 

 ties can be perpetuated, budding is always resorted to where 

 speedy results and uniformity are desired. Fruit from 

 budded trees grades higher and carries better than that from 

 seedlings, for the reason that only the best kinds are selected. 

 By repeated budding, the thorns, always numerous in a natural 

 tree, finally almost entirely disappear. Thornless trees are 

 always desirable, because the wounds inflicted upon the fruit 

 by these sharp points, especially during high winds, cause 

 great loss by decay both before and after gathering. Budded 

 trees appear to be as hardy and long-lived as any. 



Stocks of grape-fruit, lemon, and the larger limes may 

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