Moving Young Trees. 359 
propagated are quick to bear fruit and if properly shaped will 
find ample space in these distances—the greater distance on the 
richer soil as a rule. 
Preparation of land for orange planting by deep and thor- 
ough cultivation and laying off to secure straight rows by the 
square, quincunx, and hexagonal methods have been quite fully 
discussed in Chapter X, and Chapter XI has suggestions for 
. planting, many of which are applicable to the setting of orange 
trees. There are, however, special methods employed in lifting 
the orange trees from the nursery rows and in placing them in 
permanent position, which will be outlined. 
The orange, in common with other evergreen trees, is ex- 
ceedingly sensitive to exposure of its roots, and for this reason 
the handling of the young trees is very different from that of or- 
dinary orchard trees. Three ways are employed for securing 
this constant moisture of the roots, as follows:— 
Packing in Wet Straw.—As fast as the trees are lifted from 
the nursery ground by digging carefully so as to loosen and 
secure all the roots possible, they are packed in damp and par- 
tially rotten straw, proper receptacles being at hand so that the 
roots are not exposed by carrying them any distancé. In tak- 
ing up, all roots bruised by the spade are cleanly cut with a sharp 
knife. The taproot is cut away at a depth of a foot or so from 
the surface. This use of wet straw, if faithfully carried out, will 
answer well in taking trees short distances for planting, but the 
use of a puddle on the roots before packing in damp straw gives 
additional assurance of success. 
Puddling the Roots—This method is also used for decidu- 
ous fruit trees, as mentioned in Chapter XI. It consists in hav- 
ing a thin pudding of loamy soil with preponderance of sand 
rather than of clay, into which the roots are dipped as soon as 
the tree is lifted from the nursery. This mixture, which should 
be about as thick as cream, may be made in a hole in the ground, 
or, better still, in a box or cask large enough to allow complete 
plunging of the roots. As soon as dipped, and with all the mud 
which will adhere, the roots are packed in wet straw. If the 
trees are to remain thus packed for any length of time, the 
greatest care must be observed to keep the straw damp, and 
water must be applied gently to avoid washing the puddle from 
the roots. 
Sacking the Roots with a Ball of Earth——This is a very: sat- 
isfactory way to move orange trees, and if it is well done, the 
tree does not wilt. and may be moved long distances and handled 
more freely than the puddled roots. To ball and sack trees, dig 
a trench along one side of the row about six inches away from 
the trees, and about a foot and a half deep. By careful digging 
