The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1913-09-29

Ag OF the satsuma orange
little understood in West
We observed many trees,
home grounds and but
re doing what an orange
IN this soil where the
hes so well.
to follow the lesson
IN the trees and the
er TO grow all OF the
RED for family use or
mercial purposes. and in
ere should be had very
profit, as the satsuma, be-
Fly maturing orange. would
brly market prices prevailing
er and November before the
Eanges can be marketed
NJ the common mistakes made
ID who plant out orange and
nit trees, is that they set them
ply in the ground. No tree.
Ting transplanted, should be
Ter than 1t was in the nursery
hing, 1t should be set a few
higher and the earth banked
1T, as the tree is certain to
Sss the soil settles.
AVE observed trees that had been
lted two or three years and that
Ter all that time were but little
9arger than they were when they were
s transp1anted. The reasons, to me, were
very obvious.
Some were found to have been set
in a depression with the bed covered
with three or four inches Of soil, thus
placing the root proper eight or more
inches beneath the surface. entirely
sir +fv-r 1GG = nf,- saIr ie ~
more necessary to root development
than Isl ordinarily supposed.
Examine a Seeding orange tree. a
volunteer grower, and you wilt note
that the large roots are more or less
; exposed, while the small or feeder roots
spread out within very few inches
of the surface.
An Grange tree planted too deeply
fails generally to develop new roots,
new top growth. is hence delayed, and
the tree standing exposed to the sum
mer sun becomes thoroughly stunted
and If it ever RECEIVERS at all it is
very tardy in doing so.
A Few Important Dcnt,s.
Dont't plant the tree deeper than
1t grew in the nursery. The orange
tree is usually budded few inches
above the ground and this will serve
Don't fail TO carefully trim or prune
back both top and roots when trans
planting. The life and vigor of a
young tree depends upon the new roots
1t sends out, and if a large part of
the old roots are left on the stock
there will be but few new roots put
forth and consequently less growth
Of top.
The old roots should be trimmed back
within a foot Of the tree and the
small feeding roots trimmed back still
closer If they are at all dried, with
cred or broken.
Cutting back the roots means that
the top too must be pruned, and If
the tree has made much top or is tall
and lanky, it should be cut back to
the main stem where 1t will have
chance to put out young and vigorous
sprouts as the root system becomes
established.
Don't wait until late spring (March)
to plant your trees or prepare your
ground. A tree planted in December
will. by the beginning Of the growing
season, have made numerous healthy
vigorous roots and will thus be pre-
pared and ready to take up the burden
of supporting a lively top growth.
Twice the growth can be obtained the
first year by planting in time to get
this new root development before she
sprouting season.
Don't overlook the necessity of props
er preparation of the soil in which
your trees are to be planted.
Orange trees should never be planted
on sour or very wet soil. They must
have good drainage, and If the soil in
which they are to be planted has had
a year or more of cultivation and care |
previously, so much the better
If the soil is at all compact, either
the top or the subsoil, it should be |
dynamited. This has a stimulating eff |
feet on the growth as it permits the |
access Of air to the soil otherwise not |
reached by 1t, thereby aiding fertility |
and the sweetening process. and also |
breaks up the soil in a manner which /
permits the roots to gain deeper and |
firmer hold.
Don't place fertilizer too near to |
your trees. IL you desire to use some |
fertilizer when setting out the trees, i
be sure to open up the hole and mix /
in 1t The fertilizer and earth you are |
TO fill in with and do this some weeks |
before time you are to set the trees.
Thus prepared you will have no bad |
results. Subsequent fertilization |
should consist of two applications, one |
in March and the other not later than I
the first Of August as late applications I
will irAduce too much tender growth tn /