113 



Very little pruning is required if the trees are properly attended to every year, 

 and this pruning should not be done during the winter, but just before one of the 

 several growths these trees make — just before the spring growth for preference. 

 Figure 139 shows a good specimen of young orange. It is very desirable to 

 grow all citrus in tlie bush form, and this object should be kept in view all the 

 time. 



The centre of the tree should never tie allowed to become crowded ; |^keep 

 the small growths in the centre well thinned out, so tliat light and air can penetrate 

 freely throughout the trees ; keep the outside growtli thinned out sufficiently 



Fig. 137. 

 A three year old Orange. 



to permit entry of light and air, and no more ; do not o\'erdo the thinning. >. If 

 the outside becomes too dense, the inside growth dies. Apart from this, a dense 

 tree is far more liable to sickness and disease than a tree properly thinned. 



Water shoots, if not required for leaders (and they must be well placedjfor this 



purpose) should be removed flush and never allowed to make headway, for they 



rob the rest of the tree of sap and check the general growth of the tree. If they 



are retained they must be headed back, otherwise, if they are allo^ved to run un- 



hecked, a t%vo-storied or badly balanced tree results. 



Keep the tree well balanced. Cut back any lateral branches that are inclined 

 to grow too far out to an upward lateral, and remove any which come down too 



