CHAPTER XXXI. 



Limes, 



There are three varieties of limes, namely: Mexican, Tahiti 

 and Sweet. The Tahiti grown with us is worthless. The Swee 

 lime is a favorite with our native population, but it is of little 

 importance as an article of commerce. The Mexican lime re- 

 produces itself from seed in every instance. It is an excellent 

 fruit, some preferring it to the lemon. It fruits at from three to 

 four years from the seed, is very prolific, stands drouth well, 

 and forms a dwarfish, shrubby tree. It is more tender than any 

 other variety of the genus citrus, and, for this reason, its culture 

 has been practically abandoned, except in some favored locali- 

 ties. It is used for hedges where frosts do not damage it, and 

 when well trained it makes a beautiful border or hedge. 



The following letter, written by me some time ago for the Los 

 Angeles Herald, is inserted as giving my views, substantially, 

 on the question of profit in lime culture : 



"I was particularly interested in an item in this morning's 

 Herald on the 'Rotting of Limes,' etc. Your remarks bring to 

 the front in our county a vast latent interest, namely : the pro- 

 duction of limes. The lime tree is, as is generally known, an 

 early and abundant bearer, quickly producing a revenue. Many 

 orchardists have planted a portion of their grounds to limes, 

 expecting a return in a short time to help pay expenses until the 

 more important fruit the orange commenced to bear. But 

 right upon the threshold of the fruiting of the new trees, the 

 cry is raised of 'no sale at remunerative prices.' There are 

 reasons for this, and which I purpose to discuss. 



"First Our producers have not selected their fruit. They 

 have not sent to market only first-class fruit, but have sent in- 



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