206 STATE BOARD OF HORTICULTURE. 



Sicilian has learned how to deal with lemons better than any 

 one else. It does not follow, however, that the whole of Sicily 

 is adapted to lemon culture, or that the lemons grown in the 

 various districts are of equal quality. 



Mountain and Coastal Lemons. A study of the varying 

 conditions in Sicily, when considered in relation to the vary- 

 ing conditions in South Australia, leads to valuable lessons. 

 Speaking generally, Sicilian lemons are known as mountain- 

 grown lemons and coastal or plains lemons. This distinction, 

 however, does not always mean that the lemons were grown 

 among the mountains, but rather that they were grown in soil 

 corresponding to the soil of the mountain lemon districts. As 

 a rule the coastal plains consist of a light sandy soil, often 

 with a gravelly subsoil. The hillside soils are stronger and 

 consist of a well-drained clay loam, and it is on these soils that 

 lemons of the best quality are produced. The fruit so grown 

 is more solid and more juicy, and altogether of finer quality. 

 Speaking of this, the United States Consul at Messina, Mr. 

 Jones, said: "The soil has a great influence upon the maturing 

 and keeping qualities of oranges and lemons. The fruit ripens 

 earlier on light sandy soil than on clay soil. Fruit grown on 

 light sandy soil cannot be left long on the trees without losing 

 quality through becoming dry and spongy, whereas on clay 

 soils it is sometimes allowed to hang from December or Jan- 

 uary until April. The fruit grown on sandy soil is smaller, 

 and of a paler yellow. That grown on the clay soils is larger 

 and keeps better. Trees on clay soil resist drought much 

 better." As an example, it may be mentioned that the fruit 

 grown in the groves to the southwest of Palermo district is 

 much more highly prized than that from the groves on the 

 northwest, the sole difference being the clay and sandy char- 

 acters of the soils. " Mountain lemons," which is synonymous 

 with fruit grown on loamy clay soil, bring as much as one 

 third more than " coast fruit," which is grown on light sandy 

 soil. The superiority is always attributed to the soil more 

 than to the elevation. "Fruit produced on the plains of 

 Portello, the soil of which is clay, brings the same price as 

 that grown on the heights of Monreale," about the beauties of 

 which and the wonderful mosaics of the Cathedral, I hope to 

 have something to say at another time. 



