28 



ORANGE CULTURE. 



the line at regular distances of a foot. If any other distance 

 be desired, it can be regulated by the diameter of the roller, and 

 the distance between the strips. Remove the line to the next 

 proposed row. This leaves a mark lengthwise, crossed at regular 

 distances, ready to receive the plants; a roller of greater diameter 

 would require less power to use it." 



Now these directions may seem uselessly complicated and 

 troublesome, but try it once, and you will try it again. It saves 

 a great deal of time and trouble, and lays out the rows more accu- 

 rately than is possible in any other way, and the after ease with 

 which the trees can be cultivated, will amply repay for the extra 

 care at the start ; it is much easier to plough a straight row than 

 a crooked one. 



The four feet space between the rows permits the cultivator, 

 harrow, or plow to be used, and the one foot space between the 

 young trees allows of thorough hoeing. 



The ground should be thoroughly moist, both in the seed bed 

 and in the nursery; when the plants are to be moved, never under 

 any circumstances attempt to transplant when the soil is dry ; 

 either wait for a soaking rain or water the ground artificially. 



Loosen the plants carefully, thrusting the spade down per- 

 pendicularly, and work it back and forth until the soil is detached 

 from the roots. 



The moment the plants is out of the ground put them in the 

 shade ; more harm is done to trees, old and young, by allowing 

 the sun to touch their tender roots, even for a few minutes, than 

 many people realize. 



Never take up more than a thousand at a time, unless there 

 be a large working force, for it is of the utmost importance to 

 keep them out of the ground as short a time as possible. 



Sort the plants, and throw away all the stunted, inferior ones, 

 for they will make only stunted trees ; the Spartan plan, of put- 

 ting to death all the weakly, sickly infants, is a good one to prac- 

 tice here. 



Prune back the tops, and make them as uniform in size in 

 each row as possible. 



It is a good plan to place the trees in small boxes and throw 



