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is in December or January [in Florida], when the plants are thoroughly 

 dormant. Usually transplanting can be done with safety at any time 

 during the rainy season, but even then it is necessary that the soil 

 should be thoroughly wetted, either naturally or artificially, several 

 times shortly after planting, if the seedlings are to succeed well. 



In digging the seedling, carefully thrust a spade down perpendicu- 

 larly near the plants and work it back and forth until the soil is loose- 

 ened from the roots, after which the plants may be lifted out without 

 injury. The roots and tops are then pruned preparatory to planting, 

 the tap-root being cat off to about 8 or 10 inches in length and the tops 

 pruned back a corresponding distance. A number of the seedlings 

 may ^be taken in the hand and the roots and tops cut off with tn axe 

 to the desired length. As the seedlings are removed from the bed the 

 roots should be placed in water or wrapped in damp moss or cloth to 

 prevent them from drying out while they are being transferred to the 

 nursery and planted. All small or weak seedlings should be discarded. 



The rsE of Cuttings. 



Lemons, citrons, and limes are sometimes propagated by cuttings. 

 Oranges and pomelos may also be propagated in this way, but as they do 

 not root readily this method is seldom used with these fruits. As in 

 other cases, the cutttings are taken from young wood, the twigs being 

 cut into sections Irom 4 to 6 inches in length, and usually with a portion 

 of one or two leaves remaining attached to the upper end. The base of 

 the cutting is prepared by a smooth, slanting cut made with a sharp 

 knife (a smoothly cut surface forms roots much more readily than a 

 roughly cut surface in which the tissue is injured.) Cuttings thus pre- 

 pared may be planted in any convenient-sized box filled with sand. The 

 basal end of the cutting is inserted in the soil, leaving about 1 inch of 

 the upper end exposed. Wherever bottom heat can be secured, rooting 

 is greatly facilitated. When the cuttings have sprouted and have at- 

 tained a height of 8 inches to 1 foot, they may be transplanted to the 

 nursery, as in the case of seedlings. 



The Nursery. 



The citrus nursery should be on well-drained soU. . . The land 

 should be thoroughly cultivated and all rubbish removed. The 

 trees are usually planted in rows from 4 to 6 feet apart. The 

 tendency of nurserymen is to put the rows a considerable distance 

 apart to facilitate budding and cultivation. The seedlings are planted 

 from 14 to 15 inches apart in the rows. As it is much easier to culti- 

 vate straight rows than crooked ones, considerable care should be 

 exercised in laying out the nursery. During the process of planting 

 the seedlings should be kept with their roots in water or wrapped in 

 wet cloth to protect them against drying out. The holes in which the 

 seedlings are to be planted are com n only made by thrusting a spade 

 into the ground and pressing it back and forth until the soil is suffi- 

 ciently spread. The seedling may then be put in place and the soil 

 pressed firmly around it. 1 he holes in which to set the seedlings may 

 also be rcarle by pressing a nurseryman's dibble into the soil and 

 crowding it back and forth until a space of the desired size is made. 

 The roots may then be spread out and the soil pressed firmly around 

 them. In planting great care should be exercised to get the soil packed^ 

 firmly around the base of the root and not simply around the collar. 



