CHAPTER II, 



THE CLIMATE SUITED TO THE CITRUS FRUITS. 



The Pomelo thrives best in a racist climate such as that of the Konkan 

 tract along the sea coast ; it also thrives well on ttie western si.le of the 

 Deccan where the rainfall is large. Under suitable climatic conditions, this 

 is a very remunerative crop and commands a very high price in the 

 Bombay market, as much as twelve annas a fruit being given. Gholvad 

 and Chembur are two of the important centres of pomelo cultivation in the 

 Thana District. There is a considerable scope for extension of this crop 

 along the sea coast of the Surat, Thana, Uolaba, Ratnagiri and Karwar 

 Districts. 



The Mahalung, SakJiarlimbu, and the various typea of Jamburi can be 

 grown practically in any sub-tropical cli nate for ordinary purposes. These 

 fruits are grown on a very small scale for local consumption and for 

 medicinal use. It is worth noting that Mahahmg plants suffer severely 

 from flooding even of short duration. 



The Kagdi Limbu adapts itself to a great variety of climate and is 

 very largely cultivated throughout the Bombay Presidency. Along the 

 sea coast from Karwar to Surat aud in all Decoan villages where there are 

 water facilities this tree is almost always found, as the fruit is used for 

 daily consumption. In some parts of Kanara the crop does not find a ready 

 market for want of suitable transport facilities. 



The Kawla, Reshmi and Ladw varieties of orange will grow vary 

 well whereever the Sintri and Alosambi will grow, but their cultivation 

 is not recommended because they are more or less inferior varieties and are 

 therefore less profitable. 



The Santra and Mosambi with its varieties enjoy a hot dry climate. 

 The Santra is largely grown in Poona District at Saswad, Sirur, laleganu- 

 Dhamdhere, Junnar and in tho neighbourhood of Poona itself. In many 

 parts of Ahmednagar and Khandesh Districts there are many excellent 

 plantations of Santra. In these Districts and in Gujarat there is a vast field 

 for extension of orange cultivation. Both the climate and soil of Kbandesh 

 are admirably suited for orange cultivation. With timely help and 

 directions to intending orange growers the Khandesh tract might success- 

 fully compete with the orange growers of Nagpur. Gujarat is notoriously 

 deficient in fruit crops, but in the Goradu soils, Santra trees would thrive 

 excellently provided the water of the wells is not in any way unfit. In the 

 Konkan also the Santra is found to thrive well even with a rainfall of 

 100 inches per annum as at Wawoshi in the Pen Taluka of the Kolaba 

 District. 



The Mosambi probably enjoys a milder climate such as that of Poona 

 where it is largely grown. Kahuri and the neighbouring places in the 

 Ahmednagar District are important centres of Mosambi cultivation in the 

 Deccan. 



Frost is such a rare phenomenon in the Deccan that it may be neglect- 

 ed. It occurred in Poona in I'.'ll and orange trees did not suffer at that 

 time. Citrus trees are known to be considerably frost resistant and no 

 fear need be felt on that score in the Bombay Presidency. 



