The Daytona gazette=news. (Daytona, Fla.) 1901-1922, 1907-05-04
Root Pruning Citrus Trees.

Probably many OF our readers, who
have read the various articles recon-
nlending 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.. Strlngfel
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, I viii
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 hbrous roots.
spread out laterally 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 well grown wrote me
OF their great success. Ali OF them
had also set some trees with long
roots but in every instance they proved
far inferior in vigor and productive
ness. l also tested it on the common
sweet orange, the Florida, some stocks
and Citrus trifoliata at Hitchcock.
The trifoliata, if root pruned, viii
strike new tap root just like a 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
The largest and handsomest orange
tree L 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 iS-
mense bush with many bushels of lus-
clous oranges hanging in clusters all
around AS to the form Of root prun-
ing, if the trees have been transplant
ed IN nursery rows they will. when
dug, have a mass of hbrous 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 sey-
eral to a tree, These should be cut
back about Ike the others and the
small hbrous roots also clipped to
within an inch OF the main zap roo+
Where the trifoliata stock IS used il
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 its own
roots This greatly lessons the hardi-
ness OF the tree as l know from *
perlence- OF course, the ground
should be well rammed to bring the
earth into close contact with the roc.
stubs. but II it is moist there is no
necessity for watering. No tree is
more easily tranSplanted than the or
anSe Il the tops are removed and few
that will stand more drouth ii root
pruned when set"