ORANGE CULTURE IN CALIFORNIA. 85 



in this city more than thirty years ago. The varieties of lemons 

 and oranges most affected by the parasite were imported then, 

 as now, from Naples, Palermo and Sicily. But never before has 

 the fruit from those places been so thickly covered with para- 

 sites as during last year and this so much so as seriously to 

 affect the price of lemons and oranges imported from those 

 places. The only variety of West India oranges affected 

 (slightly) by the parasite is imported from Kingston, Jamaica. 

 Its existence there is comparatively of recent date. To illus- 

 trate the disastrous effects of parasites, not only on oranges, but 

 also on orange trees, I would state that previous to the year 

 1849 the oranges imported from Matanzas, on the decks of 

 sugar vessels, were of superior size and quality and commanded 

 a fair price. A few years later the orange trees and fruit, es- 

 pecially in the. suburbs of Matanzas, became thickly covered 

 with these insects, in consequence of which the fruit was greatly 

 diminished in size and comparatively of low value, so that the 

 importation of Matanzas oranges gradually decreased in num- 

 ber, and about eight or ten years ago ceased entirely. Not a 

 few orange trees in and around Matanzas were entirely de- 

 stroyed by parasites. 



"The injury inflicted, and likely to be inflicted, on Mediterra- 

 nean lemons and oranges by these destructive insects is a serious 

 matter for contemplation, and unless some effective plan can be 

 devised to check the growing evil, much loss will ultimately be 

 sustained by the growers. The value of lemons and oranges 

 annually imported into New York exceeds $2,000,000. 



"The writer has had many years of experience in the culti- 

 vation and treatment of numerous varieties of fruit trees, and 

 the only remedy known to him that will eradicate and effectually 

 destroy the parasite is to thoroughly scour the bodies and larger 

 limbs of the affected trees with sand and common soap, repeat- 

 ing the operation once a year, or until the insect shall have en- 

 tirely disappeared. The effect on the trees of the alkali applied 

 as above stated is truly wonderful in accelerating their growth 

 and productiveness. J. H. BOSTWIC." 



Fertilizing and good cultivation will not rid the trees of the 

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