CALIFORNIA CITRUS CULTURE. 17 
with good surface soil, when enough water should be added to settle 
the soil thoroughly about the roots or ball and to crowd out all the air 
and saturate the ball through and through, after which fill in to the 
top, leaving the trees a little higher than they stood in the nursery, 
as they will settle slightly after they are planted. The bud should be 
some inches above the earth. Not only should the bud be well above 
the ground, but it is equally important, probably more important, not 
to plant the roots too deep. Preferably the crown roots should not be 
planted more than two inches below the mean surface level of the 
crown. 
As soon as the trees are all set they should receive a thorough irriga- 
tion, especially if not balled, and a good cultivation as soon thereafter 
as the soil is in proper condition, both of which as we have seen should 
be deep. 
PROPAGATING CITRUS TREES. 
More and more, I think, will our citrus growers start their own trees. 
Yet nurserymen need not shiver at this advice, as few will follow it. 
The orchardist can then select seeds and buds, and can care for the 
plants from the very first, and very likely such care, costing but little, 
will double the annual income as the trees come to maturity. I know 
starting trees is a complex matter—a trade to be learned, but I have 
great faith in Yankee gumption. 
As large seeds are preferable, seeds of the sour orange, sweet orange 
and pomelo are to be preferred, the largest seeds always to be selected. 
These should be secured from the fruit of trees of maximum perform- 
ance and thrift. Whether or not the stock affects quality of scion or 
bud so as to influence quality of fruit, surely every plant and animal 
has better promise if the parents are full of vigor, health and action. 
In Europe sour stock is everywhere preferred and almost universally 
used. We are now rapidly coming to the same practice. 
Seed are secured by cutting selected fruit, squeezing out pulp and 
seeds and sieving; or the fruit may be decomposed in water and the 
seeds washed free from the pulp by use of the sieve. The seeds should 
never be permitted to dry, and to prevent this they may be stratified 
in moist sand till needed for planting. Seeds from Florida come dry, 
but will germinate readily if soaked in water about seventy hours before 
planting. Mr. R. M. Teague, one of our most successful growers, always 
plants in the open, with no protection. He thinks this gives him hardier 
trees and a better root system. It is to be said, however, that his loca- 
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