202 CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



cured in all cases, as most of the food gathered by the 

 roots is used by the larger and more vigorous top. 

 Strange to say, however, the kumquat frequently outstrips 

 the other top, sweet or mandarin orange as the case may 

 be, in growth in height." 



Generally the first crop or two of fruit produced by 

 trees worked on this stock is thick-skinned and deficient 

 in juice, because so much food is collected by the roots. 

 After one or two seasons of fruiting have passed, this 

 undesirable feature disappears and the fruit produced 

 is equal in quantity of juice and thinness of rind to that 

 borne by trees worked on any other stock. 



Kough lemon stock usually influences the shape and 

 growth of the variety worked on it. There is a pronounced 

 tendency toward the production of tall, upright branches 

 in the center of the top. This tendency will correct itself 

 after a time, or, if deemed necessary, these upright 

 branches may be cut back somewhat, to assist in the form- 

 ation of a compact, symmetrical head. 



Whether rough lemon stock has any marked influ- 

 ence on the fruit, beyond that already mentioned, is rather 

 difficult to say. Still the indications are that it increases 

 the size of the fruit and the acid content as well. In the 

 winter of 1902 two samples of fruit were picked from 

 adjoining trees of the same variety in the grove of C. T. 

 McCarty, Eldred, Florida, the one worked on rough lemon 

 and the other on sour orange. The difference in acid 

 content was distinctly appreciable to the taste and as 

 the fruit was fully matured, it Avas thought well to have 

 the two samples analyzed. This was done by Prof. H. K. 

 Miller, of the Florida Experiment Station. The speci- 

 mens grown on sour orange stock contained .72 per cent 

 acid and 9.8 per cent sugar determined as dextrose in the 



