July IS. 1919 Relation between the F'lowers and Fruits of the Lemon 161 



THE TIME REQUIRED FOR FRUIT TO DEVELOP FROM BLOSSOM TO 



MATURITY 



Lemon fruits grow slowly in comparison with the fruits of most decidu- 

 ous trees. About two months are usually required from the unfolding 

 blossom until a lemon fruit reaches a diameter of % inch. The 

 time required for the fruit to reach a size of 2X inches (a desirable 

 commercial size) varies according to conditions from 7 to 14 months. 

 From the standpoint of the producer it is desirable to have the lemons 

 reach mature size as soon as possible. A lemon which grows uniformly 

 and rapidly is usually of superior quality. It reaches the size required 

 for marketing without turning yellow to any appreciable extent; it de- 

 velops the desired flavor after being artificially cured and withstands 

 deteriorating influences during transportation and storage. 



In the lemon the ovary begins to grow very soon after the perianth 

 withers and falls off. The style adheres for some time after this, but 

 eventually the stigma and a part of the style separate and fall away. 

 "Time of maturity" is regarded as the time at which a lemon is har- 

 vested. This time is usually determined by one of two things, either 

 the fruit has reached a diameter of 2^ inches or it has lost all green color 

 from its surface. 



The records of 239 fruits were examined and the time at which they 

 were set was ascertained. The observations on the time required for 

 maturity are given in Tables VI and VII. It was found that the time 

 required to mature individual lemons ranged from 7 to 14 months. The 

 average time for all lemons in these records was 10.2 months. On 

 account of the small number of lemons set in the months of November, 

 December, January, and February, the figures for these months are 

 omitted from Table VI, because of the inevitably larger error involved 

 in averaging a few numbers. The reader will understand that fruit set 

 in a given month was a bud in the preceding month. If this is borne in 

 mind, there is no confusion in comparing Table VI with other tables in 

 this paper. 



Table VI. — Average time required for growth of lemons to maturity according to the 



m,onth in which fruit set 



The table shows that there was a variation of about 2% months in 

 the average time required to produce a lemon, depending upon the month 

 in which it set. Lemons which were set in May, June, and July came 



