CHAPTEK XV. 



LEMON CULTURE. 



All that lias been said in these pages regarding orange culture 

 Avill apply equally well to lemons, with a few slight modifications. 



One of these differences relates to pruning ; as we have seen^ 

 the orange tree will admit of considerable lapping off of its 

 branches, and with benefit. The lemon, on the contrary, resents 

 any such meddling with its branches, unless they are dead ; 

 then, of course, they must be removed. 



One single cutting away, especially of the lower branches, 

 that nature intended to shield its trunk from the sun and wind^ 

 will put back the tree from one to two years in growth, and 

 seriously aftects its vigor and health. 



AYe remember a case in point : A gentleman had one 

 especial lemon tree near his house, and wishing to make it an 

 ornament to his grounds, determined to curb its straggling pro- 

 pensities, and " train it in the way it should go." With knife,, 

 saw and shears, he pruned and lapped, until the tree had 

 assumed the desired symmetrical proportions — tall and rounded,, 

 its trunk smooth and bare, instead of being well nigh hidden by 

 sheltering foliage. 



The tree w-as expected to bear fruit the next season, but it 

 did not; it devoted its energies to replacing its lowermost 

 branches. Carefully they were pinched and pruned away ; not 

 a very arduous task was this, either, for the growth was weak 

 and slow; then the leaves turned yellow, new shoots were 

 scarce, and the whole tree assumed a sickly appearance. 



Still the true cause of the trouble was not even surmised, 

 and once more the limbs were cut back; another year, two 

 years, and though the tree still lived, that was all it did do ; a 

 few weakly blossoms came straggling out, gave a weary, hope- 

 less sigh, and sank to the ground. 



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