CALIFORNIA CITRUS CULTURE/. 101 



Salted Lemons. 



Inferior but sound fruit is often shiped as a salted product. The 

 lemons are halved and placed in a salt brine for ten days and then 

 shipped in casks, usually to Leghorn, Tuscany. This salted material 

 is freshened by being placed in water, when it is ready to use for 

 candied peel. 



Candied Lemon Peel. 



Leghorn. Tuscany, is the great manufacturing center for candied 

 lemon and citron peel. This is an important product, shipped to many 

 parts of the world. The rind is freed from the pulp, freshened in 

 water and then placed in a weak solution of sugar, which is gradually 

 made stronger, and after several days it becomes saturated with the 

 sugar. A slight fermentation is said to improve the product. At last 

 it is boiled in a concentrated solution of sugar, after which it is dried 

 and coated with crystals of sugar by slow boiling in a very strong 

 solution. 



In Italy, where labor is cheap and where everything must be utilized, 

 these citrus by-products are of much importance. It is necessary 

 there that nothing be lost. One third of the Italian lemons are converted 

 into by-products. These industries have further service, as the culls 

 are disposed of and injury of the market is not caused by their sale. 

 At present these by-products are of small importance in America, but 

 we may hope that the inventive genius of our people may bring about 

 a change in the not distant future. The U. S. Department of Agri- 

 culture is now experimenting regarding the practicability of our using 

 our culls profitably in the production of citrus by-products. We all 

 hope that success will crown their efforts. 



THE GOPHER. 



(Thomomys sps.) 



Citrus and other fruit trees are often partially or completely girdled 

 by the pocket gopher. I have seen great havoc wrought by this destruc- 

 tive rodent. The wise orchardist will be vigilant to protect against 

 this destructive mammal. Traps set in their run-ways, or raisins or 

 bits of tender orange twigs with strychnine inserted in a slit, placed in 

 their run-ways, cause their speedy death. 



