LESSON XXXIX 

 CITRUS FRUITS 



Where grown. - - The orange, pomelo, or grapefruit, 

 lemon, lime, and citron are citrus fruits, which grow 

 in tropical and semitropical regions. They are grown in 

 California, Arizona, Florida, and the coastal belt in 

 Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi. Southern Cali- 

 fornia is by far the greatest citrus region of our 

 country. This region extends into northern California 

 in the Sacramento valley. 



Orange and lemon groves present a beautiful sight. 

 The trees have glossy, evergreen leaves and they 

 blossom and bear fruit all the time. On a single tree 

 there may be fragrant white blossoms and ripe fruit 

 at the same time. The trees will adapt themselves 

 to a great variety of soils. Large citrus crops can be 

 grown from soils which are regarded as worthless for 

 ordinary agriculture. But a rich loam that permits 

 free drainage is best for these trees. 



Propagation. In California the citrus trees are 

 grown in regions that were formerly deserts. The 

 trees are planted from twenty to twenty-five feet apart 

 each way. Formerly the orange and lemon trees were 



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