CONSERVATORY PLANTS— ORANGES. 



stem and grown strongly till the desired height is reached, when they may be either 

 budded or grafted. Side-grafting or in-arching (Fig. 132) is a good method, the lower 

 portion of the scion, a, being placed in a bottle raised to the height required and kept 

 filled with water till a perfect union takes place with the stock, b ; a slice is taken off 

 the stem of each, the two neatly fitted together and bound with worsted ; when the union 

 is complete the ligature is removed, the top cut off the stock and the bottom off the 

 scion, as indicated by the cross lines, and the object in view is accomplished. 



J uly and August is the best time to insert cuttings. Branches or strong firm shoots, 

 9 inches or so in length, taken with a heel of older wood, are 

 suitable for cuttings. These should be cleared of the lower 

 leaves, firmly fixed to a depth of 4 inches in very sandy soil, 

 and plunged in a bottom-heat of 80°, further covering with a 

 bell or hand-glasses and heavily shading from bright sun. 

 They will produce roots in about two months, and should 

 first be placed separately in small pots and subsequently 

 transferred to larger ones, as required. 



Layering may take place in October. Eaise a pot filled 

 with sandy soil conveniently near a two-year-old shoot, notch 

 the latter near the middle, pegging it down at this spot in 

 the soil, burying it about one inch. If kept properly sup- 

 plied with water, a well-rooted layer ought to be ready for 

 detaching a year later, and this must then be treated simi- 

 larly to plants raised by budding or from cuttings. 



The most suitable compost will consist of two parts of 

 good fibrous loam, one part dry cow-manure passed through 

 a fine sieve, some charcoal, crushed bones, and soft ballast, 



sharp sand also if the loam is devoid of grit. The loam ought not to be broken up 

 finely for the larger shifts. 



Fairly large orange bushes may be grown in pots, but standards and large trees 

 ought to be grown either in tubs or in a border. The former are preferable, because 

 these admit of the trees being arranged on terraces and near the fronts of houses during 

 the summer, where they present an. old-fashioned air so dear to the hearts of many people. 

 Those trees to be trained against walls should be planted in narrow, properly-constructed 

 borders. It is unwise to frequently disturb the roots of healthy trees ; every second or 



Fig. 132. In-akching seedling 

 Orange Tree. 



