I'll 



THE AGRICULTUKAL NEWS. 



July 31, 1915. 



FRUIT AND FRUIT TREES. 



THE LOQUAT. 



The Loqual (Eriobotrya {aponica), Natural Order 

 Ros classi d as a si mi-tropical fruit, its succi — 



t'ul culture being confined to regions in which the 

 temperature does nol fall beiow zero. The fruil is 

 something like a small pear in appearance, to which 

 tree the loqual is closelj related. A specimen of 

 loqual can lie seen in the Botanic Gardens, Dominica 

 The following is an account of the fruil in r< gard to its 

 cultivation in California, appearing in Bulletin No. 250 

 ofthe Uhiversitj of California Publications: 



Loquat trees have long been grown m California for 

 trait and ornament, principally in private grounds and public 

 parks. These trei -. being seedlings, usual!) produced inferior 

 fruit. During the lasl few years improved varieties have been 

 developed here and introduced from other countries. This 

 has stimulated interest and new many commercial orchards 

 are found in the southern part of the State. 



Loquats do well wherevet the production of lemons is 

 successful. They blossom ami set fruit from October to 

 February, ami while the blossoms are fairly resistant to cold, 

 the developing fruit is liable to lie injured bj temperatures 

 much below 30 s F. 



Tin- loquat tree is not particular as to soil requirements. 

 Although poor soils anil a scanty supply ol water will produce 

 an abundant crop, and the individual fruits may be ol good 

 flavour and quality, they are almost invariably small. Since 

 size is an important factor in a commercial Fruit, the fertiliza- 

 tion and irrigation of the sod will have to be regulated so as 

 to produce fruit equal to the market demand. 



The loquat tree is very prolific and liable to overbear. 

 A common practice in some sections is to crowd the trees into 

 ro«s 24 feet apart, with the trees 12 feet apart in the row. 

 This helps to dwarf the tie,, and to produce more uniform 

 and regular crops. 



Some of the best varieties have been developed in 



California. The best variety for an early market is the 



Early Red, which often ripens in February. The best mid 

 season varieties are the Champagne, Thales, Advance, and 

 Victor. 



More careful methods ol grading and packing are 



advisable. U g I markets tor the fresh fruit are to be 



developed and good prices receive^ the grower should ship 



only uniform fruit of g I size and quality The | rer 



grades may lie utilized for jelly, jam and preserves. 



The average price received tm the fruit during the 

 past tew years has been about 5c per tt>. Budded trees 

 usually precociou in to bear profitably at the age 



of four or five years. Tree- ten years old should produce 

 200 II. ol marketable fruit. 



The loquat trei i n mat It rblj free from serious inset I 

 or fungus pests. The pear liliL'ht often attacks the dower 

 clusters and twigs in the spring ol the year, but is only 

 occasionally fatal to the tic Birds ofti n de ii"\ quantities 

 of the fruit during the harvesting season Thi ir depredations 

 maj be prevented in small orchards by bagging the clusters 

 of fruit tx fori the col di velops. 



Directions for Canning Tomatoes. Select 



firm red tomat I uniform size, put into tray and lowef 



nute to make skins come 

 off easily. Plungi into cold watet to make fruit firm and 

 peel promptly. ' -■ a deader pointed knife to cut out the 



being careful not to cut into < <lls. 



\11 cans and hould be thoroughly sterilized by 



boiling foi twent) minutes. Pack tomatoes in can as closely 

 as possible to within j inch of the top. Weigh can-. No. 2's 

 should contain not less than :.'n oz. and .v. .", - nol less 

 than .'!.'! oz. ol t matoes 



Mix sugar and salt in thi pi rtion of one-third salt 



and two thirds sugar. Put two level teaspoonfuls ol this 

 mixturi ich So. 3 can ol tomatoes and 1 teaspoonful 



h No. 2 can. Put the cap on the can, leaving the 



vent hole open, place cat. S iii tra\ and lower into I 



almost immersing, allowing can.- to remain for three 

 minutes to drive out the air. Tip the cans immediati Ij 

 exhausting and completely immerse in boiling water. No. - 



cans require fifteen to twenty n e v.. :; require 



twenty two to thirty minute-. Count from the time the 

 water first boils, after immersing the cans, and keep it boiling 

 ■ on- antly. Cool as quickly as possible. 



If glass jars ire used put top- on loosely, set in water 



to top aiid.hoil, pint jars twenty-five minutes and 



quart jars thirty minutes. The I >p should be tightened as 



soon as the jar- an- removed from the water. Be careful iii 



removing not to place j trs in a draft. 



[n canning with a steam pressure canner, the cans are 

 capped and tipped immediately after filling. Place in i 

 and process. No. 2 cans require twenty minutes at 228 

 degrees, 5 IK pressure} No. 3 cans, twenty-eight minut 

 232 to -j:\~i decrees, 7 lb. pressure. (Afodern Farming, 

 June 25, 1915.) ' 



Experiment Station, Tortola. A report has 

 been received from the acting I urator outlining the work 

 done during the quarter ended dune 30. The chief work has 

 consisted in the general reaping, cultivating and manuring of 

 t lie economic plot-. As e_ ndividual experiments, an 



interesting one is the -Lima bean plot which is planted with 

 six different varietiesjthough it is to be regretted that the 



germination ofthe -eed was rathei i r. In regard to ratoon 



canes it was found that B. 6450 lie,,, led the li-t this year, 

 giving a calculated yiehi of 19 tons to the acre, which maj be 

 considered quite good. An interesting table is contained in 

 the report under review showing the first year's results of the 

 lime tree manurial experiments. From this it appears that. 

 increased returns ma; ted to follow the application 



of quick-acting nitrogen; hut caution musl be exercised in 

 drawing deduction- top soon. 



The third coconut demonstration plol i- - t to be 



lished in Tortola; this plot will occupy 6 or 7 acres. 

 No-, l and 2 are in i Ithj condit ion, ind the demon- 



stration so far has given everj satisfaction. Mention was 



I a llOl t til) this journal ol I lie pro] 'd ci it tOD 



seed farm extension. The cultivating and clearing of the 

 new land has formed part oi the work during the quarter 

 under review. A- regards the cotton industry, it is 

 that the cotton factory "has continued to purchase 

 but it is believed that next yeai part ol the cotton area will 

 be planted in food crops, in view ol thi high values for these 

 products which ranged during the last three mouths of 1914. 



