The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-01-14

4
containing woody fiber will do. as It
breeds wood-Iice, which are liable to
girdle the tree. The ground for sew
eral feet around the tree should be-
covered to the depthiof four or Eve
inches with this mulch. Muldhine
trees during the bot dry months of
summer protects the roots from in
jury by the sun. o1si sos s9Tf
Sg eals AFTER CULTURE sA9A
While the trees are Young the
space between the rows can be culti.
waited with the plow, and light n.
exhaustive crop raised. Care must
be taken, however, to narrow the
area plowed each year SO as not 10
disturb the roots Of the trees. The
trees will suffer materially If their
roots are injured Am ong older trees
where @the roots have extended
themselves over the surface, the best
implement for cultivating is the
sweep" This Keeps down the
weeds and grass, yet does not run
deep enough to reach the roots of
the trees. The orange requires thor.
ough cultivation, and the soil should
De constantly stirred during the
growing season. = Dnring the sum.
mer months the ground about the
trees should be shaded BY cowR.pease
or other similar growth as in Some
soils, when kept perfectly clean, the
hot sun scalds the roots Of the .rees.
In the fall, cultivation. should be sus.
pended until the following spring !;
many prefer to keep their groves free
from grass and weed the year round.
PRUNING,
Although the orange tree requires
but little pruning, the skillfnl orange
grower viii find something to do in
this department every year, at least
until theItrees reach the bearing age.
This tree should be encouraged to
form a low head, as the foliage pro.
\ tSe.sr tire 1ftSss u..7ss .oses es.som tht
sun and frost, and the fruit is much
easier gathered from low tree. The
interior of the tree should be kept
open by removing surplus limbs, to
admit light and air; and, by extend
ing the lateral branches, to increase
the bearing surface of the tree. eva
ter" shoots, and unshapely, diseased
or dead branches, and the thorns up
on the trunk and larger limbs should
be removed with sharp knife. When
large trees are to be moved they
should be root-pruned several months
before they are taken up to secure an
abundance of fbrous roots. If this
be performed. at one time the shock
may be too great for the tree. The
roots should be cut on one side at
time, allowing the severed ends to
put out new roots before the opera
Ition is completed. A trench should
be dug around the tree, at distance
varying, according TO its age, size, ETC.,
and deep enough to bear the lateral
roots then with the quick stroke of
a sharp spade the. roots should be
severed at both sides of the trunk,
the pieces thus separated removed
and the trench filed up. Root-prun-
ing can also be applied with advan-
| tage in the management of dwarf or
garden trees, and to promote fruit
tulness. .f., .,,...s, H..
FERTILIZING.
The orange tree responds gener-
ously to judiciops application of
fertilizers. 1t is better not to apply
these when the trees are planted but
wait till they have taken root. The
process of vegetable nutrition is vi
tai not chemical. Effectual fertiliza-
ton depends upon SO many condi-
tions besides chemical constituents,
indeed, it is questionable whether it
depends at all upon the latter condi-
tion, that we have little faith in
chemical fertilizers, Some CONNER
cial manures are said to produce
good effective have had little expe-
rience with them, Turning in green
crops is a practical and inexpensive
method Of fertilization, particularly
on the high pine and other light,
dry soil. The cow.pea is especially
valuable for this purpose. When a
more immediate effect is desired, the
pease or other growth can be slist.
ed" in around the trees; they should
be spread around the trees at the ex.