128 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY 
“As to the longevity of the stock, I 
cannot express a positive opinion. The 
variety is vigorous and appears to en¬ 
dure harsh treatment and neglect when 
grown in pots and in private houses. I 
see no reason why it should not live as 
long as the ordinary orange or lemon. 
“The Otaheite possesses an advantage 
as a stock—that of inducing early fruit¬ 
fulness. From experience I am con¬ 
vinced that it can be successfully and 
profitably cultivated 6x6 or 8x8 feet 
apart, if summer pruning is resorted to. 
DWARFING BY PRUNING. 
“The tendency of the citrus family at 
an early period is to make a vigorous 
growth, in the way of one or more 
branches; and to form productive bushes 
this must be prevented by summer prun¬ 
ing. I applied to my bushes the mode 
of culture advocated and adopted by 
Thomas Rivers, of England, in the cul¬ 
ture of dwarf apples and pears. At an 
early period the leader was stopped and 
made to branch near the ground. Af¬ 
ter this the leader was regularly stopped 
by nipping out the top after it had made 
eight or ten leaves. After the side 
branches had made a growth of six or 
eight leaves the tops were removed. Af¬ 
ter the bushes were developed each 
growth was stopped at from four to 
eight leaves, according to the vigor of 
the bush. This procedure caused my 
bushes to assume the form of a cone, 
producing large leaves and an ample 
supply of fruit. I would suggest to ex¬ 
perimenters to go over their bushes oc¬ 
casionally, and as soon as any branch 
made a certain number of leaves to stop 
it by nipping out the top. This process 
will keep the bushes dwarf and will add 
to their fruitfulness. By causing the 
bushes to branch near the ground the 
soil will be protected from the sun, 
weeds would not grow, the stems would 
be protected from sun and cold winds, 
insecticides could be conveniently ap¬ 
plied, and ladders would not be required 
to gather the fruit. Some will remark 
that the summer pruning would require 
much time and labor. But in one day 
a man could go over a large number of 
bushes; and the result would prove re¬ 
munerative in the way of increasing pro¬ 
duction of fruit. If you desire fruit, 
prune in summer; if a luxuriant growth 
of wood, prune in autumn or winter. By 
summer pruning, winter pruning would 
be avoided. 
“Unless summer pruning is resorted 
to the budded portion will form a large, 
straggling top, out of proportion to the 
stock and roots, and the trees will be 
prostrated by strong winds. No person 
should attempt to cultivate the citrus 
family on the Otaheite stock unless they 
resort to summer pruning and the pres¬ 
ervation of the bush form. 
DWARF CITRUS CULTURE. 
“I believe that dwarf citrus culture 
has a future. For cultivation in gardens 
dwarf bushes would occupy but little 
space, and could be easily protected 
from frost by boxes or other covering. 
Dwarf apple culture in England proved 
a commecial success; and I cannot see 
any reason why dwarf orange culture on 
a large scale should not prove profitable. 
In conclusion, I would say to your read¬ 
ers, don’t engage in dwarf orange cul¬ 
ture unless you are disposed to do the 
bushes justice and resort to summer 
pruning. Winter pruning produces 
