MONTH I. V HI 1, 1. 171' IN. 331 



cxtcfioi- at tliat time. If allowed 1o rciiiain nn tlto tree too ]nnpr. say 

 iinlil Fchi'uai'v, it bceonics inferior in (|nalily. 



The l'ineapi)le orange is a smootli, thin-skinned fruit, which is some- 

 what later in its time of matui'ity. This is now l)pinfr planted exten- 

 sively- in many seetions of the state. Tn the section wliere it oi-itrinated, 

 it has a flavor sli-ilitly suiiyesting- that of tlie pineapple, but when 

 grown in some of the other sections, it seems to lose this characteristic. 

 The Hart's Late is thought by many to be practically the same as 

 Valencia. The two varieties pass in California under the name of 

 Valencia. The Valencia is being planted to a considerable extent in 

 Florida as a late orange, but its average time of ripening is at least 

 four to eight weeks earlier than in California. 



A new orange that is creating considerable interest in Fh)rida. l)ut 

 which has not yet had time to become of much connnercial importance, 

 is the Lue Gim Gong. It was developed by a Chinaman of that name, 

 at De Land. Florida. It is said to be a cross between Hart's Late and 

 ^Mediterranean Sweet. It is a late orange, somewhat like the Valencia, 

 but even later in maturing and has the peculiar quality of keeping 

 good and palatable when left on the tree two, three and even four years. 

 The fruit itself is also said to have stood a lower degree of freezing than 

 the Valencia or other ordinary sweet oranges. 



The Washington Navel has apparently never become a successful 

 variety in Florida, though it has been tried repeatedly. Usually the 

 Navel trees in Florida do not bear well and the fruit tends to become 

 too large and in most locations to be lacking in juice. 



Besides the ordinary sweet oranges, a considerable number of tan- 

 gerine and Satsuma oranges are raised. The latter is a rather hardy 

 orange and does best in northern Florida, when budded on Citrus 

 trifoliata root stocks. 



AVhat has been said as to the large number of standard varieties of 

 oranges cultivated in Florida, is also true in regard to grapefruit 

 or pomelo varieties. Commercially speaking, grapefruits are to Florida 

 what lemons are to California. Perhaps at present nearly half of all 

 the new plantings of citrus fruits in Florida are to grapefruit. Some 

 of the most important varieties of grapefruit are the Duncan, Hall's 

 Silver Cluster. AValters, Pernamluico and ^Marsh Seedless. The ]\Iarsh 

 Seedless is the principal variety now planted in California. The 

 quality of the ]\Iarsh Seedless in Florida, however, is not considered 

 hy many so good as some of the varieties with seeds. It is not con- 

 sidered to have so good a flavor there except when held \Qry late in the 

 season. 



Lemon growing is commercially nonexistent in Florida. The last 

 commercial orchard, one of forty acres, located on the shore of Tampa 

 Ba>-. was budded ovei- to grapefruit about 1911. and with it the lemon 

 inciustry died completely in the state. Although nearly every grower 

 has a lemon tree or two in his yard for his own use, the writer could 

 not find in the whole state even a half acre of lemons in one body. There 

 are proliably several reasons why lemon growing was discontinued in 

 Florida. Professor P. II. Rolfs says the main reason was that the fruit 

 grew too large. Another reason was that lemons in Florida are severely 

 attacked by the rust mite and by scab, both of which have to be fought 

 continually in order to keep the fruit bright. 



