434 MANUAL OF GARDENING 
The soil preferred for oranges in California is a rich, deep alluvium, 
avoiding hard-pan or adobe subsoils. Stagnant water in the subsoil 
is a fatal defect. Although they can be grown near the ocean at a 
lower level, an elevation of 600 to 1200 feet is generally desirable. 
While southern California is particularly adapted to orange culture, 
the fruit is successfully raised along the foot-hills of the San Joaquin 
and Sacramento valleys and in other parts of the state. 
In Florida, pine lands with a clay subsoil are generally preferred for 
oranges, but if properly handled, good results can be obtained from 
hammock land. As elevated spots cannot be secured, a timber belt 
surrounding the orchard or along the north and west sides is 
desirable. 
The distance for the large-growing kinds of orange in the orchard 
is from 25 to 30 feet each way, but the half-dwarf kinds, such as 
Bahia or Washington Navel, may be as close as 20 feet each way, 
although 25 feet will be desirable. If the roots are sacked, the 
trees should be placed in the hole without removing the cover- 
ing, and the soil should then be packed about them; but if they 
are puddled, a mound should be made in the bottom of the hole. In 
the center an opening should be made into which the tap-root can be 
inserted. After the soil has been firmly packed about it, the other 
roots should be spread out and the hole filled with good soil, packing 
it carefully. Care should be taken that the roots are not exposed in 
handling the trees, and if the weather is hot and dry, the tops should be 
shaded. Water may often be used with good results in settling the 
soil about the roots. 
When transplanted, the tops should be cut back in proportion to 
the amount of roots lost in digging the trees. The head is usually 
started with the branches about 2 feet from the ground. Each year 
while the trees are small, the strong shoots should be cut back to 
preserve a symmetrical form and the weak and surplus shoots should 
be removed. 
The cultivation of orange orchards should be the same as recom- 
mended for other fruits, except that as they grow in hot, dry climates, 
it should be even more thorough, that the evaporation of moisture 
from the soil may be reduced toa minimum. California growers have 
found that by frequent shallow cultivation they can reduce the amount 
