TKANSPLANTING. 



19 



TKANSPLANTING TO THE FIELD. 



A great deal of the difficult}^ that has been experienced in trans- 

 planting the avocado is due to the fact that most of the trees have been 

 grown in "fence corners,'' or possibh^ they have been permitted to 

 grow under the tree where the seed fell, thus producing tall, slender 

 seedlings, with A^ery few branches and long taproots, but not many 

 fibrous roots. A very different result is obtained from trees grown 

 in a nurser}^ (see PL III), where, as previously stated, an ai)undance 

 of fibrous roots and a good bushy top are produced. A tree of this 

 kind transplants without an}^ greater difiiculty than is experienced 

 with other orchard trees. 



One hundred budded trees to an acre are sufficient. If the grower 

 proposes to have a seedling orchard the trees should be set closer — 

 160 to 200 per acre. This should be done with a view to cutting out 

 the inferior ones when the}^ come to fruiting. Of the large-growing 

 varieties SO trees to the acre will be found sufiicient. If the variety 

 is tall and spindle shaped instead of bushy, a larger number may be 

 planted. 



In the Antillean region trees grow during the entire year, so there is 

 no sensible gradation into winter or anything that corresponds to a 

 dormant season, stricth^ speaking. While fruit trees are usualh^ in a 

 more or less quiescent state during January- and Februar}^, this con- 

 dition is brought about b}^ a diminution in rainfall rather than as the 

 result of a reduction in temperature. 



The time to transplant avocados is determined, as in the case of the 

 nursery, by the presence of sufficient moisture, and a suitable moist 

 period will usually occur in Florida during June, July, or August. 

 As the expense of watering during a dr}^ season is much greater than 

 the cost of the tree it is cheaper to set the tree out during a rainy 

 season. 



A tree should not be transplanted until it has attained a height of 

 about 3 feet in the nurser}" (see PI. III). 



In taking up these trees as many of the smaller roots should be 

 secured as possible. The roots should be kept moist and the tree Avell 

 watered when set out. The top should be cut back to some extent, 

 but enough foliage left to shade the stem. ' If the tree is not suffi- 

 ciently provided with leaves an artificial shade can be made b}' the use 

 of palmetto fans. 



TOP- WORKING TREES. 



Bearing trees ma}^ be top-worked (see PI. II, fig. 2), but it is neces- 

 saiw to insert buds on A^igorousl^'-growing sprouts to succeed. If 

 there are no sprouts with bright green bark, they may be induced to 

 grow by cutting back the branches and thus stimulating some of the 



