1480 



ENCYCLOPEDIA OP PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 



sweeten the land preparatory to receiv- 

 ing the trees from the nursery. A crop 

 of cow peas or velvet beans would be 

 preferable, however. 



The number of trees to be set out to 

 the acre depends on the variety selected 

 and the character of the land. Large- 

 growing citrus trees, such as pomelos 

 and the Bahia and Tardiff sweet oranges, 

 should not be set closer than 100 to the 

 acre, and on first-class soil 75 are enough. 

 Smaller-growing varieties, such as the 

 mandarin group of oranges and the 

 limes, should not be set closer than 200 

 trees to the acre. The character of the 

 land will also need to be considered in 

 setting out a grove. In a sandy loam 

 rich in organic matter trees grow much 

 more vigorously and in consequence 

 should be set farther apart. In the heavy 

 clay soils trees grow less vigorously and 

 may be set nearer together. 



Time and Manner of Setting Out 



The time of setting out trees from the 

 nursery will depend on the location and 

 the conditions. In the West Indies and 

 South Florida trees may be set out at 

 any time of the year when the land is 

 ready and there is sufficient moisture to 

 favor their growth. In Central Florida, 

 the spring (February and March) is pref- 

 erable. The same is true of North Flori- 

 da, Louisiana and Mississippi. In the ex- 

 treme northern portions of the citrus- 

 growing section it is usually better to 

 wait until the danger of freezing weath- 

 er is past. This will bring the date up 

 to about the latter part of February. In 

 setting out trees from the nursery, care 

 should be taken to injure the roots as 

 little as possible. Where trees can be 

 taken up with a considerable ball of earth 

 and transplanted in this way, they may 

 be set out without any apparent check in 

 growth. This, however, is not usually 

 practicable in sandy soils. 



When the trees are taken up the roots 

 should be carefully protected by means 

 of wet cloths or moist moss and the 

 trees set in holes already prepared for 

 them. If the ground is not already very 

 moist the addition of one or two pails of 

 water will usually puddle the roots and 



cause the trees to grow promptly. At the 

 time of setting out, the tops should be 

 cut back to correspond closely to the 

 condition of the roots. The favorite size 

 of tree to set out is one that has grown 

 about four feet tall in the nursery and 

 has several branches. Such trees are 

 usually about an inch or an inch and a 

 half in diameter at the crown. 



Catch Crops 



As soon as the field has been set to a 

 gi'ove, cultivation may be begun. The 

 kind and amount of cultivation will be 

 determined by the character of the soil. 

 Light, sandy soil should have shallow but 

 careful cultivation. Heavy clay soils 

 need thorough and deep working. Where 

 there is an abundance of moisture sup- 

 plied naturally to the soil, other crops 

 may be grown to advantage between the 

 orange trees. Where the soil is inclined 

 to be dry and irrigation has to be prac- 

 ticed, this is of doubtful utility in the 

 dry season. During the winter, vege- 

 tables may be planted and cultivated as 

 in ordinary fields with decided advan- 

 tage to the orange tree unless the land is 

 too dry. Leguminous cover crops may 

 be planted as soon as the spring and 

 summer rains begin. When fall droughts 

 occur the cover crops will have to be 

 removed to conserve the moisture of the 

 soil. Cultivation should then be resumed. 

 If the soil is inclined to be sterile 

 the cover crop should be used as a mulch 

 for the trees. If the ground is sufficient- 

 ly fertile to permit it, the cover crop 

 can be utilized for hay. 



Pruning 



*'To prune or not to prune; that is the 

 question." At many of the meetings of 

 the horticultural societies the question 

 of pruning has been vigorously discussed. 

 There are many good reasons for prun- 

 ing trees; on the other hand, there are 

 reasons why trees should not be pruned. 

 The question, then, must be decided by 

 each individual. One point, however, has 

 been very well settled, and that is, that 

 low-headed trees are preferable. Twenty- 

 five or 30 years ago it was a common 

 practice to have citrus trees trimmed high 



