GLEN SAINT MARY NURSERIES e a Citrus trifoliata 
Citrus trifoliata 
(Citrus trifoliata , Limonium trifoliatum; /Cgle sepiara and Citrus triptera of botanists) 
Unlike most of our cultivated Citrus fruits, this is not a hybrid, sport or derived sort, but 
a primitive, wild species, reproducing itself practically without variation from the seed. It is a 
native of Japan, where it grows wild, and has long been used as a stock for cultivated varieties 
of the Orange. It is deciduous, has dark, glossy green trifoliate leaves, and is thickly studded 
with stout thorns. It bears young (in 4 to 6 years from the seed), the fruit being inedible. 
Its habit of growth is peculiar, being very angular and distinct. It IS ENTIRELY HARDY 
throughout the Lower South, being unaffected by such frosts and freezes as occur in this 
region. Specimens, entirely unprotected, have stood the winters uninjured for years as far 
north as Washington. 
INCREASES Hardiness. —The Trifoliata stops growing early in the fall, is entirely 
dormant in winter, and starts late in the spring. Varieties of Orange and Citrus fruits worked 
upon it will stand more cold than upon other stocks; however we explain the fact, the fact 
remains, demonstrated by experience. The USE OF THIS STOCK WILL CERTAINLY 
REDUCE THE FROST RISK in the northern edge and exposed locations of the Orange Belt 
proper, and upon it the hardy Satsuma can be successfully grown in many places north of 
the present range of Orange production. 
RIPENS THE Fruit Early. — Experience thus far seems to indicate that the habit of 
this stock to harden up early in the season hastens ripening, an important item throughout 
the northern section of the Orange belt and all localities where early frosts are apt to injure the 
fruit. Again, early ripening means good prices. The first price in the Orange market 
is a high price. 
VARIETIES Budded ON IT Bear Young. — Our experience, both in nursery and our 
extensive test orchard, goes to show that all varieties budded on this stock come into bearing at 
an earlier age than when budded upon any other stock. Fruit produced from trees budded 
on this stock is uniformly smooth, handsome and of first-class quality. 
MAKES Good-sized Trees. —The fact that this stock has been considerably used 
for the propagation of small orange trees for house culture, and for grounds at the North, 
where the trees must be removed indoors in winter (for which it is especially well adapted), 
has led to the impression that varieties worked upon it were necessarily very much dwarfed. 
This is erroneous ; in open-ground culture Oranges upon Trifoliata stock are not dwarfs in 
this diminutive sense, but make good, sizable trees. In previous Catalogues we have given 
reports from various sections of the Gulf region upon the size attained by different varieties of 
Oranges upon Trifoliata stock, showing that Satsuma and other varieties of the Mandarin class, 
varying in age from 5 to 9 years, ranged in height and spread from 8 to 12 feet, while other 
varieties at 7 years, were 15 feet high. 
For ORNAMENTAL Purposes. —The ease with which it can be confined within small 
compass, and trained into almost any shape, makes it exceptionally valuable as an ornamental. 
While it is bare of leaves in winter, its vivid green stems and unique and peculiar outline 
give it a very striking appearance. Its large white flowers are followed by a showy fruit, 
which hangs, golden yellow, on the tree through the winter. 
As A HEDGE Plant. —The vigor of the Trifoliata, its hardiness, resistant qualities, 
stout thorns, and the ease with which it is confined in a small place, make it an ideal hedge 
plant. It forms an impenetrable barrier to man and beast, and with proper care can be made 
rabbit-proof. It is unquestionably the best defensive hedge plant for the Lower South. 
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