Bovlk: The Siamese Pomelo 



4« 



Florida 20 years ago' by H. J. Webber 

 of this Association. He wrote: 



"In my experiments, further, a number cf 

 navel flowers were crossed with pollen from 

 various other varieties of Citrus fruits. The 

 most notable feature developed in this series of 

 experiments was that in all crossed fruits 

 numerous seeds were produced, while in the 

 fruits produced on the trees normally very few 

 seeds were formed, and in almost all cases none. 

 This commonly seedless character of the navel 

 fruits is, as every one knows, the feature which 

 most recommends this variety of orange. 



"In every case where navel fruits developed 

 from crosses, I early marked, nearby on the 

 same tree, young fruits of apparently the same 

 age, and in every way comparable to the crossed 

 fruits other than that they were developed 

 without any treatment whatever as they 

 always naturally do in the groves. They were 

 of course entirely open and may have been 

 pollinated by insects or may have developed 

 without pollination. However this may have 

 been, the fact remains the same that in every 

 fruit thus early marked as checks for compari- 

 son, not a single seed was found developed 

 normally. In two or three instances rudi- 

 mentary seeds about two millimeters long were 

 found. 



"The practical suggestion to be derived 

 from the above results is that we should not 

 take means to secure the cross pollination of 

 our navel trees, hoping thereby to secure a 

 larger crop of fruit. The effect of the cross 

 pollination apparently being the production of 

 seedy fruits, but not necessarily more fruits. 

 These are merely suggestions and may have to 

 be modified as more is learned of the subject." 



THE SIAMESE OPINION. 



In view of this evidence, I have no 

 fear that the Siamese seedless pomelos 

 will not produce seedless fruit, when 

 grown in the Philippines and other 

 tropical countries to which they are 

 adapted. It is interesting to note, 

 however, that all the people in Siam 

 whom I interviewed regarding the seed- 

 less quality of the fruit expressed the 

 opinion that it is impossible to get seed- 

 less fruits from trees grown anywhere 

 except in the Nakon Chaisii district. 



I classified the seedless pomelos of 

 that district in four types, which are 

 quite distinct. In addition to these, 

 there were quite a number of variations 

 in size, shape and flavor, which I tasted 

 in the various orchards. Specimens of 

 all kinds were brought back to Manila, 



and after 18 days in transit they were 

 in perfect condition. Undoubtedly they 

 will stand long-distance shipment. 



Following is a description of the 

 principal characteristics of each of the 

 four types found. It is to be noted that 

 types 2 and 3 are the commonest. Type 

 4, which is inferior to them, is not very 

 common, while type 1, the finest of all. 

 is quite rare. 



Fruit No. 1. Siamese Seedless Pomelo {Citrus 

 decumana) . 



Size: Medium, 4}/^ inches in diameter by 

 5 inches in length. 



Color: L'ght yellow skin. 



Flesh: White. 



Peel: Thin, looser than average. J^ inch 

 in thickness. 



Lenticles: Large and numerous. 



Fiber: Dehcate; very small amount. 



Grain: Standard, loose and fine. 



Form: Firm. 



Seeds: None. 



Taste: Very aromatic; free from bitter- 

 ness. 



Citrus quality proportionate, ideal. 



Remarks: In my opinion, the best citrus 

 fruit of the decumana type in existence, 

 both in shape and flavor; excellent for 

 market purposes. 



Fruit No. 2. Siamese Seedless Pomelo {Citrus 

 decumana). 



Size: Medium, 4| inches in diameter by 

 3J<4 inches in length. 



Color: Bright yellow. 



Flesh: White. 



Peel: Good and firm. 



Lenticles: Numerous and even. 



Grain: Standard. 



Seeds: None. 



Taste: Citrus quality pronounced; aro- 

 matic and excellent. 



Remarks: Excellent fruit for market pur- 

 poses. These fruits are shipped from 

 Siam to Hongkong. 



Fruit No. 3. Siamese Seedless Poinelo {Citrus 

 decumana) . 



Size: Medium, 43-^ inches in diameter by 



5^ inches in length. 

 Form: Pyriform. 

 Color: Orange yellow. 

 Flesh: Pinkish white. 

 Peel: Medium; about average. 

 Lenticles: Firm. 

 Fiber: Medium. 

 Core: Large. 

 Grain: Loose. 

 Seeds: None. 

 Taste: Aromatic; rather heavy. Good. 



' Webber, H. J., 1894. Results in Crossing Navel Oranges, in Proc. Florida State Horti- 

 cultural Soc. Seventh Ann. Meeting, pp. 62-64. Jacksonville (Tallahassee, Fla. Floridian 

 Pr. Co.). 



