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Cultivation. A rich loam soil on flat ground is 
considered the most suitable for the 
cultivation of limes, although it will thrive on most 
soils except stiff clays. 
The plant is propagated from seeds or cuttings, but 
budding and grafting are frequently adopted. The 
seed is usually sown in carefully prepared nursery 
beds, which should be 5 feet wide, slightly raised 
above ground, and shaded. The seeds should be 
sown in lines 8 or 9 inches apart, with an interval 
of 2 to 8 inches between the seeds in the lines; 
sufficient seed should be sown to allow for losses in 
the field. When the seedlings are four to five inches 
high they should be transferred to other nursery 
beds, where they are replanted 6 to 9 inches apart, 
the tops being nipped off to produce a thick well- 
branched tree. When the seedlings are about one 
foot high, they should be planted in the field. The 
usual distance of planting is from 15 to 20 feet apart 
according to the nature of the soil; the richer the 
soil the greater the spacing. 
Mature lime trees are not usually clean-weeded 
except for a small area round each tree, but the 
grass between the rows should be cut regularly. 
Careful attention must be given to pests and. 
diseases and a sharp watch should be kept for plant 
parasites, which are very liable to attack the trees. 
Scale insects are usually the most troublesome pest. 
Under ordinary conditions the lime tree commences 
to fruit at from three to three and a half years 
from the time of planting, and at six to seven years 
will give an average yield of 1,500 to 2,000 fruits 
per tree per annum, 
