THE LEMON IN CALIFORNIA — VARIETIES. 163 



Dr. J. H. Needham, in an essay before Pomological Society, 

 at Covina, in 1898, says: "The advantages claimed for the 

 Lisbon are that it bears its fruit uniformly all through the 

 tree. But the disadvantage is that the tree is thickly stud- 

 ded with long, sharp thorns, which, when the branches are 

 waved by the winds, puncture much of the fruit, spoiling it 

 for the market, especially the Eastern market. Another objec- 

 tion is that it does not come into bearing until it is from seven 

 to ten j'ears in orchard, and bears only one crop a year." 



Villa Franca. — Fruit oblong, slightly pointed at the blos- 

 som end, rind thin, without any trace of bitterness, acid strong, 













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' -^z. 



Cross-sections of Villa Franca Lemon (cured specimens)— natural size. 



juicy, nearly seedless. Tree almost thornless, branches spread- 

 ing, and somewhat drooping, foliage very abundant, which pro- 

 tects the fruit from scorching. The tree is a strong grower and 

 less susceptible to cold than most varieties. Imported from 



Europe. 



Dr. J. H. Needham, in an essay before Pomological Society, 

 at Covina, in 1898, says: "The advantages claimed for the 

 Villa Franca are that it makes a more compact tree and bears 

 its fruit more uniformly over the entire tree; but, from my 

 experience, it requires at least one year longer to come into 

 bearing, and the fruits on young trees are shorter when they 

 have the requisite diameter for picking than either the Eureka 

 or Lisbon." 



