CALIFORNIA CITRUS CULTURE. 23 
CARE OF THE YOUNG CITRUS ORCHARD. 
Humus is very essential to the best growth and vigor of our trees. 
Therefore, a good application of well-rotted stable fertilizer will be 
welcomed by the young trees even the first year. The trees must never 
feel the lack of abundant moisture. At first basins about the trees 
for irrigating are allowable, but furrows, even in the young orchard, 
are usually the cheapest and the best. In any case the water should 
not touch the tree trunks, and the irrigation should be deep, then the 
roots will go down deeply, where they always should be. We often 
talk of trees as being deep or shallow rooting, but are not these condi- 
tions the results of our special methods? The roots will go where the 
water or moisture is. The elms in the eastern swamps are very shallow 
rooting. I have grown them here in California, and found the roots 
deep in the soil. Surface irrigation invites the roots to the surface, 
while if the water is placed deep down the roots are impelled to push 
down to secure it. Shallow rooting trees in an arid soil will always 
suffer in times of drought; while trees with roots deep in the soil will 
usually suffer not at all. I have trees that I have set and cared for for 
Fic. 13.—Orange trees pruned high. (After Lelong.) 
fourteen years, always irrigating in deep basins or furrows, and now, 
when I plow deeply in fall or spring, the roots are never harmed. In 
clay ground it is well to plow deeply, and one can do so safely where 
the roots are beyond harm’s way. I repeat, the roots should be kept 
down, but if, from improper cultivation and irrigation, this has not 
been done, the wrong may be righted by plowing each succeeding fall 
and spring a little deeper. Such a course is certainly wise. I urge 
