ORANGES AND LEMONS CENTRAL AMERICA. 409 



whence they are just ripe enough for shipping. Oranges are cured by 

 buying them separately under 4 or 6 inches of very dry sand, in a shaded 

 and ventilated place, for a month or two, after that they can be taken 

 out, will look proportionally fresh, and will keep in that condition for 

 six months. 



Packing and shipping. When packed for export the oranges are 

 wrapped in paper and packed in special boxes. 



Planting. Orange trees are planted 20 feet apart, lemons 15 feet, 

 and limes 20 feet. Orange trees are propagated by seed, shoots from 

 roots, and by branch cuttings. 



Some orchards are quite large and others are small. 



Maturity. Fruiting begins at five or six years from the time the seed 

 is planted ; when the tree is fifteen years old and upwards it produces 

 the largest crop of fruit. The full maturity of the tree is uncertain. 



Insect pests. Trees here are very seldom troubled with insect pests, 

 with the exception of some seasons, by an insect in the shape of a tick, 

 called manteca, which is very easily removed ; but sometimes worms 

 in the shape of teredo on the roots kill the tree beyond cure. 



JAMES VIOSCA, Consul. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



La Paz, December 21, 1889. 



CENTRAL AMERICA. 

 GUATEMALA. 



REPORT OF CONSUL-GENERAL HOSMER. 



I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of the circular submit- 

 ting a list of questions regarding the cultivation of oranges, lemons, figs, 

 and olives. 



In reply, I beg respectfully to state that the fruits referred to are of 

 spontaneous growth in Guatemala, and are not cultivated or exported. 

 They grow in nearly all parts of the Republic, from the sea-level to 

 an altitude of 5,000 feet above it, and are freely consumed by the popu- 

 lation, but without care or effort in their culture. 



JAMES K. HOSMER, 



Consul- General. 

 UNITED STATES CONSULATE-GENERAL, 



Guatemala, December 9, 1889, 



