CHAPTER VII] 



THE CLLNf ATE BKST ADAPTED TO THE 

 LYCHEE AND LUNGAN 



A study of the range of these fruits indicate that they are 

 decidedly sub-tropical, thriving best in regions not subject to heavy 

 frost but cool and dry enough in the winter months to provide a 

 period of rest. In China and India they are grown between 15 and 

 30 degrees north latitude. 



The Canton delta, in which these fruits are indigenous, is 

 crossed by the Tropic of Cancer and is a sub-tropical area of con- 

 siderable range in climate. Great fluctuations of temperature are 

 common throughout the fall and winter months. In the winter 

 sudden rises of temperature will at times cause the lychee and lungan 

 to flush forth their beautifully colored orange and garnet brown new 

 growth. This new growth is seldom subject to a freeze about 

 Canton. On the higher elevations of the mountainous regions 

 which are subject to frost the lychee is seldom grown. The lungan 

 appears in these regions more often but it, too, cannot stand heavy 

 frosts. The more hardy, mountainous types of the lychee are very 

 sour and those grown near salt sea water are said to be likewise. 

 The lychee thrives best on the lower plains where the summer 

 months are hot and wet and the winter months are dry and cool. 

 The lungan thrives on higher ground than the lychee and endures 

 more frost. 



Some idea of the weather conditions in the vicinity of Canton, 

 where the lychee and lungan flourish, is made possible by a study of 

 the records of the Kwangtung Agricultural Experiment Station (JH) 

 H^fclfti&tl). These records are quite complete from 1913-1919 and 

 a study of the rainfall, temperature and humidity charts for this 

 period reveals the following: 



