Strength and Uprightness. 365 
Mr. Reed’s idea is to build the head along a considerable 
length of the trunk and not have the branches bunched at the 
top, and this is the same idea that is urged in the development 
of the trunk of the deciduous fruit tree in Chapter XII. He 
finds it impossible to do this in the nursery because if it is at- 
tempted to form a head 18 or 24 inches along the upper portion 
of the stem instead of one bunched near the top of it, the lower 
branches will appropriate most of the sap and the upper portion 
Fic. 4. Branch-form of Orange Six Months after Planting. 
will not be well developed; while if this upper story is well es- 
tablished in the nursery the lower portion can be built on with- 
out detriment to the upper, if nutriment sufficient for both is 
furnished. Fig. 4 will show approximately the branch-form of 
the young tree at about six months from planting and the shoots 
with which the building-down is begun. The first step is to 
check the drooping habit. Upon this point Mr. Reed says:— 
The common notion that the branch of the Navel orange naturally 
tends down is a mistake which grows out of the fact that in its rapid 
growth the new part of the stems and large leaves are so loaded: with 
sap that they pull the stems from their natural upright position, and, 
unless relieved, hold thein there till the deposit of woody fiber fixes the 
branches in the drooping or unnatural position. If the tips of these 
rapidly-growing branches, with their heavy leaves, be clipped at the right 
time, the branches will spring back to the erect position, where they will 
remain to send out new branchlets. It is wonderful how the orange 
tree can be molded like a thing of wax by pinching and clipping here 
and there, if done at the right time. 
