HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



113 



gling shoots, and removing neatly all superfluous ones, 

 especially where there is any appearance of exhaustion. 

 In such cases, one-third of the previous year's wood 

 may be removed. Trim all the wounds neatly, and 

 apply liquid manure to the roots at the same time. 



The necessity for this mutilation would be obviated 

 by a proper attention to summer pruning, which con- 

 sists of nipping off" the ends of all over-luxuriant 

 shoots, and rubbing off all those which are not required, 

 as soon as they appear. No wounds are left by this 

 treatment, and the same end is attained. 



Some young plants seem preternaturally prolific, and 

 come out in a mass of blossoms, with scarcely any 

 foliage. Where this occurs, every blossom bud should 

 be carefully removed, and the tree well watered with 

 liquid manure. 



The orange should not be exposed to high winds, as, 

 in a state of nature, it grows under the shelter of larger 

 trees. An abundant supply of water is also a deside- 

 ratum ; and so necessary is this considered in orange 

 growing countries, that the first step towards planting 

 an orange grove is to provide for an ample supply of 

 water for irrigation. The lower branches should be 

 trained so as to protect the roots from the sun without 

 touching the ground. 



A light mulching of well-rotted cow dung, with a 

 little sheep or fowl dung, may be laid round the circuit 

 of the stem, to the extent of one foot beyond the 

 longest branches, about one inch thick. A lighter 

 dressing of the same material may be added at the 

 spring and fall, extending the circuit as the tree in- 

 creases in circumference, and never allowing this part 

 to be dug. 



Diseases : The orange is subject to attacks from the 

 coccus or scale insect, the aphis, and a black blight like 

 smut. These scarcely ever appear on trees in mode- 

 rately good ground, trenched and drained, where water 

 is supplied in seasons of drought. The most effectual 



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