80 



regions where foot rot is prevalent, sweet-orange stock and lemon stock 

 /should never be used, as they are particularly subject to this disease. 

 The lime, which is a very vigorous-growing stock, similar to the lemon, 

 is used to some extent in southern Florida as a stock for the orange, and 

 is said to be excellent for barren scrub land and rocky locations. The 

 hardy trifoliate orange is used to a limited extent as a stock for the 

 orange, but has not always given thoroughly satisfactory results. 



Tangerine and China (Mandarin) do well on any of the stocks used 

 for the common sweet orange, but as the grower usually desires to 

 increase the size of these varieties it is probably preferable to bud 

 them on rough-lemon stock. The satsuma, which is a hardy variety, 

 is very extensively budded on the hardy trifoliate orange, on which 

 it is said to do well It also gives good results on sweet-orange, which 

 is probably the best stock to use in southern locations, but does not 

 do well on sour-orange stock. Lemons are usually budded on lough- 

 lemon, sour-orange, or sweet-orange stock, the rough-lemon being con- 

 sidered the most desirable, as it is the most vigorous grower. In 

 places where foot rot abounds, sour-orange stock should be used. 



In selecting stocks it is also important that the latitude and local climate 

 be carefully considered. The various citrus species used as stocks for 

 grafting or budding vary greatly in their resistance to cold. . . 



In regard to the effect of stock on the character of the fruit, it may 

 be said that while some growers claim to have observed that the fruit 

 is rendered coarser and thicker skinned by budding on vigorous, ra- 

 pidly growing stocks, like the pomelo and the lemon, yet it is certain 

 thst the difference is very slight and in most cases hardly perceptible. 

 In this connection all that needs to be considered is that stocks of 

 this nature tend to produce rather larger fruits. While in some varie- 

 ties this character is a disadvantage, it is, on the other hand, an 

 advantage to have a vioforous stock, as in certain varieties this is 

 necessary to insure f ruitfulness. The varieties of the Navel orange 

 are unfruitful on sweet or sour stock but usually they are normally 

 prolific if budded on rough lemon. 



Budding, 

 w^hen to bud. 



The trees in the nursery should be budded when they have attained 

 .a size of from oae-half to one inch in diameter. If the trees are 

 grown for sale it is probably best to wait until they are three- 

 fourths to one inch in diameter before budding. If the young trees 

 are grown for planting, it may be desirable to bud them rather sooner, 

 in order to put them as soon as possible in their permanent places in 

 the grove. If a tree is transplanted when still small, the greater por- 

 tion of the roots and top is saved, and the shock in transplanting 

 is therefore less, budding can be done only when the tree is in a 

 growing condition, so that the bark slips and separates easily from 

 the wood. It is usually preferable to bud as early in the spring as 

 possible. The nursery is commonly budded during March and April. 

 It may be gone over again in May and those stocks which failed the 

 £rst time rebudded. Budding may be done at any time during the 

 ^summer, unless the trtes are checked in growth by a severe drought, 

 but it is usually not best to bud later that the first of July, as suffi- 

 .4jient time should remain fer the bud to push and mature the wood 



