THE LIME IN CALIFORNIA 391 



alone. The process is described in detail in Bulletin No. 232 of the 

 Bureau of Plant Industry of the United States Department or Agricul- 

 ture, February 13, 1912. 



VARIETIES OF LEMONS FOR CALIFORNIA 



During 1 the earlier years of California lemon growing there were 

 continuous efforts put forth to secure better lemon varieties. During 

 the last decade three varieties have been accepted as satisfactory and 

 nearly all others have been dropped. The three are Eureka, Lisbon, and 

 Villa Franca, arranged according to present degree of popularity in 

 Southern California, where nearly the whole commercial product is 

 now made, although some plantings have been undertaken farther 

 north, chiefly in the citrus belt on the east side of the San Joaquin 

 Valley. 



Eureka. A native of California, originated by C. R. Workman, at Los 

 Angeles, from seed imported from Hamburg in 1872, only one seed growing, 

 from which buds were put by him on orange stock. Distributed by T. A. 

 Garey, of Los Angeles. Tree very free from thorns. Fruit medium size, sweet 

 rind, a good keeper, few seeds; very popular, especially in coast regions. Less 

 popular in the interior because of scant foliage. 



Lisbon. Imported from Portugal; first grown by D. M. Burnham, of River- 

 side. Fruit uniformly medium size, rather oblong, fine grain, thin sweet rind, 

 strong acid; few seeds; a good keeper; tree is a strong grower, with compact 

 foliage, prolific bearer, but starts bearing late; quite thorny, but thorns decrease 

 in size as the tree grows older; popular at interior points especially, and Eureka 

 trees in the Tulare region are being grafted over to Lisbon. 



Villa Franca. Imported from Europe. Medium size, oblong, slightly pointed 

 at the blossom end, rind thin, without bitterness, acid, strong, juicy, nearly 

 seedless. Tree thornless, branches spreading and somewhat drooping, foliage- 

 abundant; withstands lower temperature than other imported varieties. 



THE LIME 



The lime (Citrus medica acida) has proved much less hardy than 

 the lemon. It has been killed in situations where the orange and lemon 

 have not been injured. Unless adequate protection is thought worth 

 the effort, there is little use in planting the lime, except in a frostless 

 situation. Such localities are found near the ocean in southern Cali- 

 fornia, and here and there at proper elevation around the Bay of San 

 Francisco and in the interior both north and south ; still the growth of 

 the lime must be counted very hazardous. There is less inducement to 

 experiment with the fruit from the fact that the Pacific Coast markets 

 are well supplied with Mexican limes, usually at prices which leave no 

 opportunity for competitors. 



Limes are grown from seed, the variety usually coming true from 

 seed. The trees are small and are frequently grown in hedge form. 

 The common variety is the Mexican. The Imperial, a large, rather 

 hardy variety, is favorably reported by several growers. Bearss Seed- 

 less is being successfully and profitably grown by Mr. R. Gallegos at 

 the Mission San Jose in Alameda County. 



