CITRUS CULTURE IX PORTO RICO 



15 



After the tree has been selected all fruit below medium size should 

 be discarded. Likewise, after the seed has been removed from the 

 fruit, the abnormally small ones should be discarded. This may be 

 accomplished partly by washing the pulp awa} 7 from the seed, when 

 the very light ones float off, and partly by hand picking. After 

 having been cleaned the seed may be dipped in any of the organic 

 mercury preparations which are sold especially for seed disinfec- 

 tion. The seed may be planted without having been dried, or it 

 may be dried in a drafty but shady place and stored in a tight con- 

 tainer for some time and then planted. It should preferably be 

 planted immediately when possible, however. 



SEEDLINGS 



In Porto Rico, where the nurseries are comparatively small, germi- 

 nation boxes should be used in preference to seed becls. The boxes 

 may be of any convenient size, but should not be less than 6 inches 













k 









Figure 7. — Germination box with seedlings 8 weeks old. Note perfect stand due to 

 disinfection of seed and planting in soil free from organic matter 



deep. Holes one-half to 1 inch in diameter should be made about 

 6 inches apart in the bottom of the boxes to provide for drainage. 

 The boxes should preferably be placed on racks of convenient height 

 and be partly shaded. An open shed with boxes placed near the 

 sides will afford a suitable location, or a frame having a covering 

 of slats so spaced as to provide half shade may be used. Pieces 

 of rock should be placed over the drain holes and the boxes filled 

 with soil to a depth of 6 inches. Any kind of soil that is not too 

 heavy may be used, although pure sand is unsuitable and much 

 organic matter is undesirable for the reason that it may harbor 

 damping-off fungi. A friable subsoil may be used because it is 

 nearly sterile. Commercial fertilizer consisting of inorganic matter 

 should be applied and mixed with the upper layer of soil; about 

 an ounce per square foot of a 4-8-8 mixture will do. The seed bed 



