Methods of Handling Citrus Groves 
W. J. Ellsworth 
Mr. President } Ladies and. Gentlemen : 
After reading over the reports of the 
past several years on the subject of Meth¬ 
ods of Handling Citrus Groves, it ap¬ 
pears that this work has not yet been 
made an exact science, as a quite wide 
divergence of practice is found, often 
under seemingly similar conditions of 
soil. That widely divergent methods will 
obtain, however, is at once manifest when 
the greatly differing character of soils 
used in citrus fruit growing* is taken into 
consideration. 
In my section, the highlands of Pasco 
county, we have varying grades of high 
pine and hammock land, usually of a me¬ 
dium sandy character, and my experience 
in the handling of groves has been gained 
under these conditions. I have no expec¬ 
tation of being able to present anything 
new or striking, but will briefly detail the 
methods I have up to this time found to 
give favorable results. 
The prime object of the grove is of 
course to obtain the greatest possible net 
return, hence the aim is to eliminate all 
unnecessary expense, riding no hobbies, 
indulging no fads. 
Assuming the work of this committee 
covers the planting as well as the main¬ 
tenance of citrus groves, it seems well to 
commence at that point and carry the 
work to the bearing grove. 
The prospective planter will find it to 
his advantage to select the best soil avail¬ 
able and as near as practicable to trans¬ 
portation. If new land, the clearing 
should include thorough grubbing in or¬ 
der that later cultivation may be carried 
on in the most economic manner. 
For breaking the land we prefer a 
small turn plow, as this leaves the turf in 
smaller slices than the larger plow, and 
we like this to run to such a depth as 
will thoioughly subdue the deeply rooted 
glasses and weeds. When necessary to 
break up the turf we follow the plow with 
a Cutaway harrow, and finally lay down 
smoothly with the Acme. 
There is no excess acid condition in 
soils of this locality, hence we resort to 
no sweetening processes in advance of 
planting. 
When planting I have found it the best 
practice to mix with the soil to be used 
about the roots of the trees one-half to 
one pound of a good tree grower fer¬ 
tilize!. After planting we water liberally 
and bank the trunk of the tree to a 
height of eight to ten inches with a view 
to conserving moisture and firmly secure 
the tree against being whipped about by 
high winds. If planting prior to the 
