400 FEUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



EGYPT. 



In reply to the circular of the Department, dated September 28, 1889, 

 asking certain questions about the cultivation of oranges, lemons, figs, 

 and olives, I have the honor to inform you that these fruits are not cul- 

 tivated to any extent for commerce in this country, although they are 

 sometimes to be found in private gardens. 



EUGENE SCHUYLER. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE-GENERAL, 



Cairo, November 22, 1889. 



MOROCCO. 



REPORT BY CONSUL MATHEWS, OF TANGIERS. 

 (jRepullished from Consular Reports No. 41.) 



Varieties. As most of the trees are seedlings, the varieties are numer- 

 ous ; the most valuable are the round, sweet orange, and the small 

 aromatically flavored fruit known as the Mandarin orange. The Man- 

 darin is the most valuable. 



Maturity. Nine years from seed; two years after grafting or budding. 



Seedlings remain fruitful over a century ; grafted or budded, from 

 thirty to forty years. 



Propagating. They are propagated from seeds, inarching, grafting, 

 budding, and by cuttings. 



Planting. Fifteen feet apart, or about 150 trees to the acre, if graft- 

 ings ; seedlings, 20 feet apart, 100 trees to the acre. 



Insect pests. Various vine-fretters and kermes are very troublesome, 

 and cause considerable damage to orange trees. The common remedy to 

 a certain extent is to wash the trunk and main branches with a lotion of 

 lime-water, and by watering the leaves with the hand pump. Trees too 

 closely planted, or placed in damp and shady localities, or even not 

 properly pruned to permit light and air through all their branches, 

 create a parasite or leaf disease known as the "demantiumimono- 

 phyllum " or charcoal, which covers the leaves with a black adhesive 

 dust ; also the " lichen auranti, n which appears as a crust of a gray 

 whitish color. The bad state of health of the trees creates these para- 

 sites and fungus. I have cured these with petroleum, which must be 

 applied in a mixed state by churning milk and petroleum to a consis- 

 tency of cream, as petroleum mixed with water is often injurious. 

 These liquids are unmixable, and when applied in some parts only the 

 petroleum touches the trunk or leaves, and on the others the water 

 alone, while, if well mixed with milk, the strength of the petroleum is 



