CULTIVATION OF EXOTIC FRUITS. 51 



remaining on the trees long after it is ripe is injurious to the 

 plants), cutting out the weak sterile-looking and worst-ripened 

 shoots, at the same time having an eye to the symmetry of the tree. 

 Thinning the fruit is never practised in the Orange-gardens in 

 Portugal ; yet it would doubtless be advantageous to trees, when 

 ovei'-cropped, to remove some of the fruit ; nevertheless, if they 

 are healthy they will not suffer from bearing abundant crops. 



Though I have spoken only of the Orange in the foregoing 

 remarks, the same genei'al treatment is applicable to the other 

 fruits I have mentioned. It may be imagined that some difficulty 

 will arise from the plauts flowering and ripening their fruit at 

 different times ; but this I apprehend will be no more than the 

 ordinary intelligence and perseverance of gardeners will easily over- 

 come. And as I have before observed, the same climate which 

 ripens the Orange in perfection, perfects the Guava and Loquat. 



After the Orange, the Loquat stands next in value, being hand- 

 some in appearance, and delicate in flavour. I cannot, perhaps, 

 convey a better idea of its worth than is expressed in the following 

 translation of an article whichappeared in the AgricidtorMichaelense. 

 " This valuable tree was imported to St. Michael's as an orna- 

 mental plant by the Sr. Barao de Fonta Bello, about thirty years 

 ago. The tree soon produced seasonable fruit, and of such parti- 

 cular and exquisite flavour that, with the exception of the Orange, 

 no other fruit is so abundant and common in St. Michael's. The 

 tree is robust, extremely prolific, and suits itself to every soil and 

 circumstance. It is easily propagated by layers and seeds. The 

 fruit is juicy, subacid, and pulpy ; but so tender is the pulp that 

 it melts into ' agradabilissimo ' liquor. There is not a quinta 

 (or quintal cottage garden) in which the Loquat is not to be found. 

 In the months when the Oranges are becoming scarce, come the 

 Nesperas and Lnquats, to console us advantageously in their 

 absence." What the writer of the above has stated I have witnessed; 

 and I even consider that he has fallen short in the praise of this line 

 fruit. It will appear strange that the Loquat has been so long 

 known in this country, and so disadvantageously brought out. 

 This is, doubtless, owing to all attempts to cultivate it having 

 been made in tubs or on the back wall of some plant-house : 

 better results may therefore be anticipated from plants growing in 

 the borders of an exotic house. The Loquat (Eriobotrya japo- 

 nica) is all but hardy in our climate ; it is at present (December 4th) 

 in flower on the Arboretum wall in the Society's garden. The fruit 

 must be permitted to remain on the tree till it is perfectly ripe, or 

 it will not be full-flavoured. The finest fruit of this description 



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