418 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



BRITISH WEST INDIES. 



BERMUDA. 



REPORT BY CONSUL BECKW1TH, OF HAMILTON* 



Varieties. In Bermuda we have but one variety of sweet orange, 

 which is delicious, large, and juicy. I know of no name for our oranges ; 

 they are yellow, somewhat like the Havana and New Orleans oranges, 

 although not oval shape, being round and flat; some measuring 18 

 inches in circumference. The Mandarin orange and grape fruit are also 

 grown. 



Situation. The trees grow in valleys and are protected by cedar 

 trees and hills. When exposed to the high winds they do not flourish. 

 They are sometimes grown near little bays, and but a few feet from the 

 sea, and very little above sea-level. The trees thrive by exposure to 

 the sun. The valleys are the best where the soil is the deepest, and of 

 a deep-red color. 



Soil. The soil is from 3 to 4 feet in depth, and subsoil is a deep- 

 red clay in these valleys, in some places of the depth of 12 feet, but on 

 the sides of hills not deeper than 6 to 12 inches, and mostly a loamy 

 soil. 



Climate We can grow here all that grows in a tropical climate. 



In the summer the average temperature is about 80, in winter from 

 65 to 70. Night and day varies very little. Our changes are seldom 

 more than from 3 to 4. The sultry days are in August and Septem- 

 ber. The moist atmosphere occurs after heavy rains, the ground being 

 porous, and the heat of the sun will then produce a heavy atmosphere; 

 ordinarily clear, bright, and beautiful weather. 



Trees of all kinds are becoming fewer on the islands, in consequence 

 of which we do not have as much rain as formerly, but when we have 

 frequent rains it adds much to the growth of the fruit and trees. 



The seed is planted in boxes ; they are also budded on the Seville 

 orange and lemon when the bark can be freely removed from the wood. 



Cultivation. Most of the trees are little cultivated; some are planted 

 in the grounds with the crops, and the only fertilizers are what are used 

 for other crops sea- weed, stable manure, etc. I find the best fertilizer 

 to be chamber-lye, about 1 gallon to 300 gallons of water, thrown around 

 the roots two or three times a mouth. Care must be used in not mak- 

 ing it too strong, as the albumen forms around the roots and prevents 

 the water penetrating, and in time all the leaves drop, and if the roots 

 are not attended to the tree dies ; the remedy is to remove all the soil 

 and use lots of water. 



* I have obtained the information herewith given, largely, through Mr. J. B. Heyl, 

 who is one of the oldest and most successful fruit growers here. H. W. B. 



