FRUIT CULTURE IN MENTONE. 911 



cited this fact : If a horizontal form is sought after, and one side of the 

 tree (that is, tin* boughs forming one side) develops at the expense of 

 the other, or if any one bough on the one side is weaker and smaller 

 than the corresponding branch on the other, the condition is easily 

 remedied by bending the overdeveloped branch downwards or the atro- 

 phied branch temporarily upwards. In either case the sap quits the 

 dependent for the elevated branch, and soon they are brought to an 

 equal development, when the restraints may be removed. Whatever 

 form is selected, however, the trunk of the tree should not be allowed 

 to grow higher than 12 or 15 inches. At this height it should be made 

 to branch or bifurcate, and the branches then arranged in such forms 

 as may be desired. I can not here go into the various methods of prun- 

 ing and training. These will vary, naturally, with the sorts of trees 

 with which we have to deal. Suffice us to say that all redundant 

 growths are to be cut away, and even the bearing branches pinched 

 back from time to time as the exigencies of the tree and its crop require. 



One word as to the results obtained here by this method of fruit-tree 

 culture. In my judgment it is the only system practicable in this 

 climate, but with the protection which the trees thus obtain even 

 peaches and apricots do fairly well. I have counted, for example, a 

 hundred well formed, beautifully colored peaches on a single U-shaped 

 tree whereof the stem was no larger than my wrist. 



EDWARD P. BARLE, 



Consul. 



UNITED STATES CONSULATE, 



Cognac, August 21, 1889. 



FRUIT CULTURE IN MENTONE. 



REPORT BY CONSULAR AGENT VIALE, OF MENTONE; TRANSLATED BY CONSUL 



WILSON, OF NICE. 



[Republished from Consular Reports No. 54.] 



Two promontories of the Maritime Alps, Cape Martin and Cape Mar- 

 tola, descending to the Lear, form in the Mediterranean, at the gates 

 of Italy, the beautiful gulf which the ancient geographers called Sinus 

 Pacts. From the midst of the semicircle, protected from the winds of 

 the north, the east, and the west, another promontory advances, less 

 important, which finishes in low hills at the edge of the sea. In this 

 delicious corner of the world was formerly found a little village, sur- 

 rounded by olive and lemon trees, which were reflected in the azure sea 

 this was Men tone. 



One day some travelers, wandering on the Corniche road, perceived 

 its picturesque situation and learned of its mild climate. It required 

 but few years to bring to it renown, and the little village has become 



