Over-size Oranges.

I have some orange trees in a disintegrated granite with a good many small pieces of rock still remaining in the soil.  What I wish to know is whether it is probably something in the soil that makes them grow too large, or is it probably the method of treatment?  What treatment should be adopted to guard against this excessive growth?

Young trees have a natural disposition to produce outside sizes of fruit, and this is sometimes aggravated by excessive use of fertilizers, sometimes by over-irrigation.  We would cease to fertilize for a time and to regulate irrigation so that the trees will have enough to be thrifty without undertaking excessive growth.  Such soil as you describe is sometimes very rich at the beginning in available plant food, and fertilization should be delayed until this excess has been appropriated by the tree.

Budding or Grafting in Orange Orchard.

I have land now ready to be planted to oranges, but it is impossible for me to buy the necessary budded stock now or even later this year.  Would you advise me to plant the “sour stock” as it comes from the nursery and have it budded or crown-budded later?  Are there any real objections to this method, and, if so, what are they?

It is perfectly feasible to plant sour-stock seedlings and to graft them afterward to whatever variety of oranges you desire to grow, but it is undoubtedly better to pay a pretty good price for budded trees of the kind you desire rather than incur the delay and the irregular growth of young trees budded or grafted in the field.  There is also danger of an irregular stand from accidental injuries to new growth started in the field without the protection which it finds in the nursery row.

Budding Oranges.

How late in the fall can budding of orange trees be done — plants that are two years old — and what advantage, if any, is late budding?  What shall I do with some old trees that were budded about two months ago and are still green but not sprouted yet?  The budding was done on young shoots.

Late budding of the orange can be done as late as the bark will slip well; usually, however, not quite so late as this.  Such buds are preferred because in the experience of most people they make stronger growth than those put in in the spring.  Such buds are not expected to grow until the lowest temperatures of the winter are over.  The buds which you speak of as green but still dormant are doing just what they ought to do.  They will start when they get ready.

Under-pruning of Orange Trees.

My Washington Navels have a very heavy crop on the lower limbs, as is usual.  These branches are so low down that many of the oranges lie on the ground, and it takes a good deal of time to prop them up so that they will not touch the ground.  What would be the result of pruning off these low branches, after the fruit is off?  Will the same amount of fruit be produced by the fruit growing on the limbs higher up?