THE ORANGE IN CALIFORNIA — PLANTING. 101 



done, plow the land at least twelve inches deep. Let the land 

 lie until it has been thoroughly settled hj rains or bj^ irriga- 

 tion, then plow again, if possible some deeper than the first 

 plowing. Thoroughly pulverize the soil by harrowing. Go to 

 the nursery and see that your trees are dug with good roots, 

 and tops well cut back and all leaves removed from the trees 

 before they are lifted from nursery rows; have roots immedi- 

 atelj' puddled, then packed so as to retain all moisture and 

 exclude sunshine and wind. As fast as the trees are planted 

 in orchard form, each tree should receive at least twenty-five 

 gallons of water to thoroughly settle the soil. As soon as the 

 soil is in good condition cultivate thoroughly." 



A great mistake is often made by careless planters in digging 

 small holes, just large enough to crowd the roots into. In 

 these the trees are forced, the roots being twisted out of shape, 

 with no regard to their proper position, and as a result the trees 

 make a stunted and unhealthy growth. The holes should be 

 both deep and broad. It is best to dig the hole deeper than 

 needed; then fill up the bottom with a cone of surface soil, 

 and in the apex of this cone a hole is made with a shovel-handle 

 to receive the taproot. The laterals are then carefully spread 

 out as nearly as possible in the position occupied in the 

 nursery, and the hole filled up. The tree should be planted a 

 little deeper than it originally grew, and when it is set should 

 be pulled up with a gentle shaking motion to its proper height. 

 This will settle the soil about the small roots. A bucket of 

 water is now applied, which will still further settle the soil. 

 As soon as the water has disappeared a little fresh soil is put 

 over the basin, to prevent evaporation and to keep the tree from 

 leaning. Trees planted with these precautions make the best 

 growth and become the thriftiest. 



Time of Planting-. — The orange, being an evergreen, can be 

 planted at any time in the year when the conditions are favor- 

 able, and this is determined by the condition of the tree and 

 the season. The orange tree makes several growths during 

 the season, varying in number and season with different 

 varieties and different seasons. But there are periods when 

 all orange trees are dormant, and others when nearly all are 

 active. In transplanting, the trees should be taken at their 

 dormant stage, as the shock of removal will not then be so 



