212 CITRUS FRUITS AND THEIR CULTURE. 



equal in quality to the same variety on sour roots, and still 

 another thing that experience has proven is that the same var- 

 ieties ripen earlier in the season upon Citrus trit'oliata than 

 upon sour. The longevity of the trees on Citrus trifoliata, the 

 ultimate size that they will attain and their comparative value, 

 in the long run, with those on sour, remain to be proven. It 

 is probable that as the trees get older, there will be more differ- 

 ence in size between trees on the two stocks than is now ap- 

 parent. This will be the natural consequence of the trees fruit- 

 ing so heavily when young. This smaller ultimate size of trees 

 is a quality, whether advantageous or otherwise, each can fig- 

 ure out for himself. It admits of close planting, and a conse- 

 quent heavy crop from a given acreage. It is also probable that 

 some varieties will show more affinity for the trifoliata stock 

 than others, and that while some varieties will prove perma- 

 nently successful on this stock, others may not. The exact 

 extent to which extra hardiness is induced by using Citrus tri- 

 foliata stock is also more or less conjectural, but experience 

 has shown that the claim for extra hardiness is well founded, 

 with certain varieties. Whether it will prove equally so with 

 all varieties is one of the points that further careful comparisons 

 in the test orchard must determine. The test orchard estab- 

 lished is one of these long time experiments in which years 

 must pass before actual definite comparisons can be made that 

 will cover all the points involved. 



In the meantime it is an inspiriting sight to see the trees 

 on Citrus trifoliata bearing heavily, not only in the orchard, 

 but in the nursery rows, and it suggests promising possibilities 

 for the colder sections of the State; with thick planting and 

 banking of the trees in winter. For if the trees are frozen 

 back to the banking, they immediately put on a new top and 

 come into bearing again very soon. In my own orchards and 

 nurseries, situated at Glen St. Mary, in northern Florida, within 

 ten miles of the Georgia line, the crop for this year is estimated 

 at 1,000 boxes. All of the trees that are bearing in nursery, 

 and a .large proportion of those in orchard are upon Citrus tri- 

 foliata stock. 



G. L. TABER. 



Glen St. Mary, Fla., June 22, 1901. 



