46(5 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



may not keep so well and may be marketed first. Of the finer 

 points in lemon handling, however, there is much which must be 

 learned by experience. 



VARIETIES OF LEMONS FOR CALIFORNIA 



During the earlier years of California lemon growing there 

 were continuous efforts put forth to secure better lemon varieties. 

 During the last decade three varieties have been accepted as satis- 

 factory and nearly all others have been dropped. The three are 

 Eureka, Lisbon, and Villa Franca, arranged according to present 

 degree of popularity in southern California, where nearly the whole 

 commercial product is now made, although some plantings have 

 been undertaken farther north, chiefly in the citrus belt on the 

 east side of the San Joaquin valley. 



Eureka. A native of California, originated by C. R. Workman, at Los 

 Angeles, from seed imported from Hamburg in 1872, only one seed growing, 

 from which buds were put by him on orange stock. Distributed by T. A. 

 Garey, of Los Angeles. Tree very free from thorns. Fruit medium size, sweet 

 rind, a good keeper, few seeds; very popular, especially in coast regions. Less 

 popular in the interior because of scant foliage. 



Lisbon. Imported from Portugal; first grown by D. M. Burnham, of 

 Riverside. Fruit uniformly medium size, rather oblong, fine grain, thin sweet 

 rind, strong acid; few seeds; a good keeper; tree is a strong grower, with com- 

 pact foliage, prolific bearer, but starts bearing late; quite thorny, but thorns 

 decrease in size as the tree grows older ; popular at interior points especially. 



Villa Franca. Imported from Europe. Medium size, oblong, slightly pointed 

 at the blossom end, rind thin, without bitterness, acid, strong, juicy, nearly 

 seedless. Tree thornless, branches spreading and somewhat drooping, foliage 

 abundant ; withstands lower temperature than other imported varieties. 



THE LIME 



The lime (Citrus medico, acida) has proved much less hardy 

 than the lemon. It has been killed in situations where the orange 

 and lemon have not been injured. Unless adequate protection is 

 thought worth the effort, there is little use in planting the lime, 

 except in a frostless situation. Such localities are found near the 

 ocean in southern California, and here and there at proper ele- 

 vation in the interior both north and south, still the growth of the 

 lime must be counted very hazardous. There is less inducement 

 to experiment with the fruit from the fact that the Pacific Coast 

 markets are well supplied with Mexican limes, usually at prices 

 which leave no opportunity for competitors. 



Limes are grown from seed, the variety usually coming true 

 from seed. The trees are small and are frequently grown in hedge 

 form. The common variety is the Mexican. The Imperial, a 

 large, rather hardy variety is favorably reported by several growers. 



