498 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



having made their appearance many of these orchards have been aban- 

 doned. 



Maturity. Trees begin to bear at six years of age and are most pro- 

 lific at twenty. The greatest age of the average tree is fifty years. 

 Orange trees sometimes last eighty years. 



Insect pests. A number of insects attack orange and lemon trees : 

 The Coccus hesperidum, Kermes qurantiis,&nts,Mytilaspisfulva, Secanium 

 hesperidum. 



The most troublesome of the parasites is the coccus, which belongs 

 to the order of the hemiptera and to the suborder of the homoptera, and 

 is vulgarly called the scab. In the spring it propagates rapidly in 

 damp, warm weather. It prefers the lemon to the orange. This is very 

 detrimental to trees that are overshadowed by taller trees or that have 

 not had their heads opened out to let in light and air. Remedy : a solu- 

 tion of lime. 



The Kermes aurantii is partial to the orange and punctures its leaves 

 Remedies : Solution of lime, solution of sulphate of copper, kerosene, 

 infusion of tobacco. 



The best way to get rid of ants is to destroy their hills in February 

 with kerosene ; fumigations of sulphur are also resorted to. 



The Mytilaspis fulva ; remedy, solution of phenic acid. The Secanium 

 hesperidum ; remedy, sulphur fumes. 



Beneficial insects. The coleoptera (of the cochineal family) and the 

 hemiptera, above mentioned, feed on the aphides. 



Parasites. There are no known parasites of the injurious insects. 

 Small birds, if preserved from ruthless sportsmen, would prey upon 

 these destructive insects. 



Picking and curing. The fruit is gathered in baskets, lined with cloth, 

 and piled at the foot of a tree, where expert workmen trim the pe- 

 duncles close to the fruit and examine each orange and lemon, selecting 

 the choice ones for exportation. This fruit is then carried in large bas- 

 kets to the warehouse, where, after a second careful inspection, women 

 wrap it in tissue-paper. The fruit contained in each box must be of 

 the same size. These packers are most expert in classifying the fruit. 

 Sight and touch are the only sizers used. If the boxes are kept for any 

 length of time in warehouses, they are opened once every three Y ee X s 

 that their contents may be carefully re-examined, and the damaged 

 fruit removed. Time is the only curing process for both oranges and 

 lemons. 



WALLACE S. JONES, 



Consul. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Messina, January 27, 1890. 



