156 THE LYCHEE AND LUNGAN 



break out into new growth at relatively low temperatures; in 

 other words, that it has a low zero point for vegetative growth, 

 just as the West Indian lime, Citrus aurantifolia (Christm.) Swing., 

 and the guava, Psidium Guajava L., both of which are forced into 

 a tender new growth by a few days of warm weather such as com- 

 monly occur during a Florida winter. Both of these plants suffer 

 severely from cold in all but extreme south Florida. 



It appears very probable, then, that the lychee has hereto- 

 fore failed to grow in Florida without protection not so much 

 because of any extreme sensitiveness to cold as because of its lack 

 of winter dormancy and low zero point of growth which cause it 

 to put out tender new growth very liable to be injured by even 

 moderate cold snaps. Experience in Florida has shown only too 

 clearly that once the lychee has started into a tender new growth 

 it is severely injured even by very slight frost that would have no 

 effect whatever on mature leaves and twigs. 



It would appear desirable to test the lychee in south Florida 

 by giving it the protection of a lath shed. Possibly the trees 

 should be shaded on hot days to prevent the breaking out of new 

 growth; certainly they should be protected by fire-pots, if neces- 

 sary, on cold nights, and during cold winds if in growth. 



After the lychee has been grown successfully with such 

 protection it might be possible to work out methods of culture in 

 certain favored locations without the expense of sheds, giving only 

 protection by fires during severe cold spells. 



The lychee is able to stand prolonged hot, moist weather in 

 summer, in fact probably requires such weather in order to grow 

 vigorously and fruit abundantly. The summer climate of south 

 Florida is very much like that of south China, and doubtless the 

 lychee will feel at home in Florida if it can be properly protected 

 during the winter. 



In view of the exquisite flavor and superb beauty of the ripe 

 fruit of the choicest varieties of the lychee, there is every reason 

 to expect that this, the most highly esteemed fruit of China, will 

 be grown in special greenhouses by amateurs all over the United 

 States. Our hot summers, so trying to many flowers and fruits 

 of Europe, would be beneficial rather than injurious to the lychee, 

 and as a relatively low temperature during winter is advantageous 

 to this tree, the expense of maintaining such a lychee house would 

 be less than that of an ordinary greenhouse. Now that Professor 

 Groff has brought the finest varieties of the lychee to the United 

 States and Dr. Coville has worked out the soil requirements of this 

 plant, there should be no serious difficulty encountered in fruiting 

 this tree under glass. 



