ORANOES AND I-EMONS IN GtlADELOTTPR. 429 



FRENCH WEST INDIES. 



GUADELOUPE. 



ItErORT PREPARED BY MR. ST. FELIX OALARDEAU, DIRECTOR OF THE BOTAN- 

 ICAL GARDEN AT BASSE-TERRE, FOR CONSUL BARTLBIT. 



The only variety of lemous raised to any extent in this island is the 

 small lime, which is used in Dominica and Montserrat for making 

 concentrated lime juice. In Guadeloupe thus far it is only used for 

 domestic and culinary purposes, but could be raised as well as in the 

 English islands for making concentrated juice. For many years there 

 has been a disease on the lime trees, but the evil seems now to be pass- 

 ing off". 



There are plenty of good oranges in the island ; they are mostly used 

 for local purposes. Very little exportation has been tried from here, 

 Guadeloupe being too distant from the United States to export oranges 

 profitably by sailing vessels. Steamers would succeed and i)erhaps 

 incite the country people to raise fruits for exportation. There are four 

 or five varieties of good oranges in the island. 



No regular orchards. — The trees are a few in gardens and on differ- 

 ent estates, more or less. No large fields of oranges. Grows more 

 luxuriantly on cool mountain sides. Subject also for many years to a 

 blight, caused by a variety of aphis or louse, which attacks the young 

 twigs of the trees. 



No special cultivation. 



No fertilizers used. 



No pruning. 



Oranges are ripe from November to April. Blooms in March. 



Trees are propagated from seeds. 



Fruit at five or six years from seed. The variety not always the 

 same from seed. No grafting of orange trees. Trees in full bearing at 

 ten years of age from seed. Live a great many years. 



No exportation of oranges or lemons from the island. 



St. Felix Caeaedeau. 



Basse-Teerb, 3Iarch 23, 1890. 



