494 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



earth, and at no great distance from the surface, and that such an ex- 

 istence waters the roots without the aid of man. A happy belief! 

 Certain it is, however, that at Nervi, a few miles along the coast from 

 Genoa, orchards thrive with but little irrigation, and this state of af- 

 fairs is noticed even in the dryest seasons. Unless groves have strong 

 soil, as above mentioned, and are moistened by an unseen water-course, 

 they will prove unprofitable if the owners do not nourish the dry roots 

 as often as, say, once in eight days. In the first four or five years cul- 

 tivation between the plants is possible, but when the tops of trees reach 

 a certain expansion cultivation would seem impossible, or, at least, im- 

 probable. 



Produce and expense. When the tree reaches between the ages of 

 fifteen and twenty years each 4 one is expected to yield abundant fruit, 

 the orange from 400 to 600, and the lemon from 600 to 1,000. On strong 

 soil and with proper care as the orchards advance in years it is said that 

 a lemon tree will yield from 3,000 to 5,000 fruit per year. The ground 

 is manured like unto the olive groves, some kind of compost, etc. 

 The expense is estimated as about the same, namely, $05 per hectare 

 (2.471 acres) per annum. 



SUMMARY. 



Oranges and lemons are not raised in such quantities in this consular 

 district as to admit of large exportation, but the trade in olive oil is a 

 big item. 



The following table is copied from advanced sheets of what is de- 

 signed as an accurate report of the importation and exportation of olive 

 oil, oranges, and lemons for the year 1883, to be soon issued by the 

 chamber of commerce of this city. 



EXPORTS OF LEMONS AND ORANGES. 



France 6,878 



Tripoli and other African ports 66, 155 



Kgypt , 1,830 



Total 74,863 



Total exports over over imports 10,098 



JAMES FLETCHER, 



Consul. 

 UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Genoa, Italy, May 1, 1884. 



