490 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



They are now only to be found towards the eastern boundary, and here 

 only chiefly orange trees that are cultivated more for their blossom than 

 for their fruit, orange blossom being used in large quantities in the dis- 

 tilleries in Grasse, Cannes, Nice, and other centers of the perfumery 

 industry. 



CHARLES B. TRAIL, 



Consul. 

 MARSEILLES, April 30, 1890. 



MENTONE. 

 REPORT SI CONSULAR AGENT CLERIOT. 



Varieties. The names of the best qualities are (1) Fleurs, (2) C6- 

 riesche, (3) Granetti, (4) Verdame. 



Situation. There is not any special situation for those qualities; they 

 are corresponding to the four blossomings of the tree. Orange and 

 lemon trees grow near the sea as well as upon the hills, but exposition 

 to the sun is to be preferred ; so also is hilly ground when there is 

 water, but level ground is good too. 



Soil. Calcareous and permeable soil is best. 



Climatic influence. A mild and temperate climate has a great influ- 

 ence on the growth of the trees. 



Temperature. They grow well in a high temperature, 32 centigrade; 

 they freeze under 3 centigrade. Cold and damp nights are injurious ; 

 those warm and with an ordinary atmosphere are favorable. 



Rain-fall. In Mentone the rain is generally calculated at about 85 

 cubic centimeters per year. Spring and autumn rains are the best. 



Irrigation. One irrigates in summer from June 21 until August 30 

 with water gathered in the hills and kept for the purpose ; alter the 

 i blossoming and three times during the summer at intervals of a month, 

 500 liters every time. . ^ 



Cultivation. The orchards are plowed twice a year. 



Pruning. The trees must be pruned every year and according to the 

 plantation. 



Picking and curing. Lemons are gathered in Mentone four .times a 

 year; oranges twice, January to April. Lemons and oranges must be 

 firm and not too ripe when they have to be exported. 



Planting and propagating. The trees are planted at a distance of 5 

 or yards to have a regular plantation. Lemon trees are propagated 

 by grafts on bigaradiers or bitter lemon trees. Orange trees from seeds 

 are better but less resistant. 



Maturity. The trees are grafted when four years old j they do not 

 give a very good gathering before being fifteen years old. 



Insect pests. The morphe"e and the fumee are the two diseases of 

 the orange and lemon trees ; .the former is an insect, the latter a mush- 



