THE ORANGE. 627 



g^rowing and boarhig at once, and in a few years regain tops 

 of their former size. Trees carrying half-grown fruit have 

 been moved and retained the crop till maturity. 



Immediately after the civil war, when the planting of groves 

 began in Florida, there was no nursery stock to be had. Ac- 

 cordingly, trees were taken from the extensive thickets of wild 

 oranges existing here and there all over the State. Before 

 removal they were cut back to four or five feet, and all the 

 roots severed a few inches from the stump. As they had 

 grown closely, with little room for expansion, many, still small, 

 might have been a hundred years old, and yet these apparently 

 stunted trees, after being transplanted and budded, grew off 

 handsomely, becoming large and productive in time. Others, 

 topped and budded where they stood, with roots intact, the 

 surrounding bushes being cleared away, were transformed 

 even sooner. Being evergreen, transplanting may be done 

 any time of year, but the cooler weather of winter, when 

 gprowth has nearly or entirely ceased, is considered safest. 



New roots begin to push out about three weeks after lifting, 

 followed in a week or two more by the swelling of the buds. 

 Besides being supplied with water, if the weather is very hot 

 and dry, they should be shaded or wrapped till growth begins. 

 Before movement of sap and root action is established, there 

 is no power to resist the heat from the direct beams of the 

 sun, which may cook and destroy them. Mulching is of great 

 assistance in keeping the soil loose, moist, and cool until the 

 recovery of the tree, and preventing the drying up of the 

 tender rootlets. 



Trees should never be set deeper than they originally grew. 

 On damp or low-lying soils they ought to be a few inches 

 higher, and the earth drawn up to them, leaving a sloping bed 

 with a depression in the middle to carry off surplus water that 

 might accumulate during heavy rains. If the ground is loose 

 they will settle a little, for which allowance should be made. 

 Set too deep, they will never thrive nor grow much until raised, 

 or waited upon until new collar-roots form. The ends of all 

 tap-roots should be cut off smoothly, also the laterals, which 

 should be drawn out straight, and clean soil tightly packed 

 around them. Contact with strong fertilizers and fermenting 

 manures is highly objectionable, and likely to breed disease. 



