900 FRUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



November 1, 1885, they brought $17 the 220 pounds ; December 1, 

 1885, they fell to $12.50. Salted citrons, November 1, 1885, were 

 quoted at $64 the cask; December 1, 1885, at $59. November and 

 December are the great shipping months; the fruit is then half grown 

 and half ripe. 



The custom-house statistics show, for the year ending December 31, 

 1884, that 455,400 pounds of citron in brine; valued at $16,560, were 

 exported from Messina. No preserved fruit is shipped from this port. 

 England, France, Genoa, and Leghorn are the principal markets for 



the "citron of commerce." 



WALLACE S. JONES, 



Consul. 

 UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Messina, December 8, 1885. 



NAPLES. 

 REPORT OF CONSUL OAMPHAT7SEN. 



CULTIVATION. 



The cultivation of the citron begins with the sowing of the seed of 

 the bitter orange, being the same seed from the fruit of which marma- 

 lade is made. 



After four or five years, when the seed has produced plants or small 

 trees, they are transplanted, at the time of blossoming, in regular rows, 

 at a distance of 25 centimeters. 



When they have a diameter of 8 centimeters they are grafted with 

 small citron branches. The grafting is indispensable to give long life 

 to the trees and hasten the production of the fruit. 



Three years after the grafting the tree is transplanted into a ditch 1.25 

 meters wide and 1.50 meters deep, at a distance of 4 meters from one 

 another. In planting the trees in the ditch particular care should be 

 taken not to injure any part of the roots. 



The leaves are taken from the trees and the branches cut back to the 

 length of 20 centimeters. The ditch is filled with earth to a depth not 

 exceeding 25 centimeters, left sufficiently loose to allow the roots to 

 spread with ease, and prevent smothering the plants. If the plants do 

 not sprout at once the earth on the roots is loosened and moistened. 



For fertilizing old horse-manure or other old manure is to be applied. 

 No fresh manure ought to be used, because it would be injurious and 

 have a tendency to kill the plants. Manure should be used only in the 

 winter, between October and March, and be placed at a distance of 10 

 or 15 centimeters from the roots. Around the tree a deepening in the 

 shape of a basin should be formed, and unless the ground be moist or 

 damp the plants require frequent applications of water during the 

 summer. 



