BUD VARIATION IN THE LISBON LEMON. 67 
have healed. The limbs should then be cut off about 6 inches above 
the buds and all other branches removed from the tree. In some 
instances, as shown in figure 13, one limb of the original top, known 
as a nurse limb, is allowed to remain in order to preserve somewhat 
the balance of the tree. It is questionable, however, whether any- 
thing is gained when this method is followed, as just as good results 
have been observed in the course of these investigations where all the 
limbs are cut back to a point about 6 inches above the buds. The | 
cut surface should be immediately covered with grafting wax, as- 
phaltum, or some other protective material. The trunk and main 
branches are protected from sun injuries by a coat of whitewash. 
An unproductive tree of the Villa Franca variety which has been 
top-worked with bud wood from a productive tree of the Lisbon 
strain is shown in figure 14. This tree is comparable with the one 
shown in figure 13, with the exception that the young top represents 
10 months’ growth. In about a year from budding, or when the 
tree is in the condition shown in figure 14, the stubs of the rebudded 
limbs should be cut back again, making a smooth, sloping cut, and 
leaving only one sprout from one bud on each limb. The cut sur- 
faces should be covered with grafting wax or some similar material. 
The young top-worked trees must be closely watched for several 
years and allsprouts from below the buds removed; if not, the young 
top will include branches from the original unproductive top and the 
whole object of top-working will be defeated. Under normal con- 
ditions the top-worked tree with selected buds from superior parent 
trees should begin bearing the second year after rebudding, and in 
the third and fourth years should bear good commercial crops. 
REPLACING UNDESIRABLE TREES IN BEARING ORCHARDS. 
In many old bearing orchards undesirable or unhealthy trees are 
frequently found, and it is often more economical to replace these 
trees with younger ones from selected buds rather than to top-work 
them. Owing to lack of attention to details, until quite recently it 
had been generally assumed that such replanting would prove un- 
successful. Experience has shown, however, that when proper care 
is used undesirable lemon trees in old orchards can be replaced with 
young trees grown from selected buds. 
The undesirable or diseased trees should be removed from the or- 
chard during the late summer or early fall, and immediately after 
the older trees have been taken out holes should be dug for the new 
trees. These should be at least 5 feet in diameter and from 2 to 3 
feet in depth. The holes should then be filled with good topsoil 
which has been mixed with well-rotted manure. The loose soil and 
manure should be allowed to settle in the holes during the winter and 
early-spring months. In placing the soil in the holes a sufficient 
