364 Building Down the Orange. 
more horizontal habit, too great out-shooting is repressed and at 
about five years orchard-age the tree attains a height of about 
twelve feet and is of the general form shown in Fig. 3. The next 
few months will bring its foliage to the ground to remain there 
or to be under-trimmed, as the notion of the grower may be. 
BUILDING DOWN AND NOT SAGGING DOWN. 
It is perfectly feasible and rational to secure a good form 
of low tree without removal of large branches and without rely- 
ing upon the sag of the branches from a high head. It requires 
rather more watchfulness and attention and study of the subject 
than some growers desire to give, but the results when attained 
gy cium 
an a = 
Fic. 3. Good Form of Five-year-old Orange Tree. 
are very satisfactory. The method is that of J. H. Reed, of 
Riverside, and has been followed by him for a number of years 
with his own orchard and others of which he has had charge. 
It will be found readily intelligible with the help of the sketches. 
Mr. Reed would begin with a young nursery tree like that al- 
ready shown in Fig. 1. He does not believe in much cutting 
back before planting providing a fair amount of roots are left 
in the ball at transplanting. If the tree has been properly 
planted and cared for, it will soon begin to put out new growth, 
usually first along the stem, the strongest growth being lowest 
down. As many of these young branches along the stem as are 
not desired for permanent branches, are rubbed off, the earlier 
the better, at least before woody fiber is deposited in them. Mr. 
Reed rubs off promptly all below a point about two feet from the 
ground, if there is a prospect of getting sufficient good branches 
above that point. If not he saves them down eight or even 
twelve inches lower if need be. 
