The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1907-04-24
Root Pruning Citrus Trees.


Probably many OF Our readers, who
have read the various articles recon-
mending the New Horticulture have
said to themselves that it might be
good thing for peach trees but would
not work with citrus fruit trees This
week we give you an article on that
very branch Of the subject, which was
written for Farm and Ranch by the
original author OF the New Horticul-
ture:
Mr. Robt Baird, Of California, writes
asking that we secure Mr.. Stringfel-
lows opinion on the special point of
root pruning oranges or other citrus
trees in transplanting. We have the
following from Mr. Stringfellow:
In reply to Mr.. Robt Baird, l will
say that all citrus trees can be root
pruned with the greatest advantage.
Naturally they are all very deep root
ing from seed and rarely attain the
size and vigor Of seedlings, when
transplanted with long fbrous roots,
spread out 1ateral1y. Shortly after
announcing the value of root pruning
in Farm and Ranch many years ago,
several parties in Florida and Arizona
practiced it extensively, and when
the trees were we'll grown wrote me
OF their great success. All of them
had also set some trees with long
roots but in every instance they proved
far inferior in vigor and productive
ness. [ also tested it. on the common
sweet orange, the Florida, some stocks
and Citrus trifo1iata at Hitchcock.
The trifoliata, if root pruned, will
strike new tap root just like seed
and sometimes several. Of course the
top Of the orange trees must be cut
off about a foot above ground after
planting, but this is no loss for new,
round, symmetrical heads will soon
form, which, if let alone, will bear their
fruit evenly all around on the outside
where it can be easily gathered and the
ground will be completely shaded and
mulched by the fallen leaves.
1.-THE largest and handsomest orange
tree [ ever saw was on Galveston Is
land shortly after the war, and the
owner told me that knife had never
touched it. The lower limbs droop-
ed upon the ground, forming an ia
mense bush with many bushels of lus-
cious oranges hanging in clusters all
around AS to the form Of root prun-
ing if the trees ohave been transplant
ed in nursery rows they will, when
dug, have a mass Of fbrous lateral
roots, but no deep or tap roots Such
trees should have one or more Of the
strongest vertical roots left, cutting
them back to four or five inches and
all side or lateral roots to about one
inch. But if the trees are seedlings
and never moved before, they will
have large tap rots, sometimes sew
eral to tree. These should be cut
back about like the Others and the
small fbrous roots also clipped to
Z within an inch of the main tap root.
Where the trifo1iata stock is used it
is very important to have the scion or
budded part of the tree above the
ground after planting, to prevent it
from striking roots above the union
and thus establishing itself on it's own
roots. This greatly lessons the hardi-
ness Of the tree as I know from *
perience. OF course, the ground
should be we'll rammed to bring the
earth into close contact with the root
stubs, but if it is moist there is no
necessity for watering. No tree is
more easily transp1anted than the or
ange if the tops are removed and few
that will stand more drouth ii root
pruned when set"