THE LOQUAT AND ITS RELATIVES 257 



injuring the tissues and causing them to shrink or to develop 

 irregularly." 



When grown in regions where the weather during the ripening 

 season is extremely hot and dry, the fruit is subject to sun- 

 scald or sunburn. The exposed surface withers and turns 

 brown, and the product is rendered unfit for market. If, on 

 the other hand, the weather is cool and foggy during the ripening 

 season, the fruit lacks sweetness and flavor. 



Sandy loam is considered the ideal loquat soil, and it should 

 be of good depth. Several other types of soil have proved 

 satisfactory; thus, in southern California good orchards have 

 been produced on heavy clay of the adobe type, and in Florida 

 the shallow rocky soils of the Homestead region on the lower 

 east coast have given excellent results. Deep sandy soils, 

 when of little fertility, are not suitable. Frank N. Meyer 

 points out that the best loquat orchards in China are situated 

 on low, rich, moist land. 



In California orchards, loquat trees are planted 12 to 24 

 feet apart. When planted on the square system, they should 

 not be nearer than 20 feet. Close planting has been practiced 

 in Orange County, where the rows are set 24 feet apart 

 and the trees 12 feet apart in the row. This is believed to 

 result in greater regularity and uniformity of production 

 than wider planting. March and April are good months for 

 planting in California; late September and October are also 

 suitable. In southern Florida the best time is probably in the 

 autumn. 



The amount of tillage given the orchard varies in different 

 regions. Condit says: "Clean culture may be practiced 

 throughout the season, but the growth either of a winter or a 

 summer leguminous cover-crop is much more advisable." 

 For a winter cover-crop, the natural vegetation which springs 

 up in California with the arrival of the rains may be allowed 

 to grow until it reaches its maximum development, when it 



