ORANGES AND LEMONS IN PALESTINE. 437 



not compete with the fruit of the budded or grafted trees, and is kept 

 for home consumption. 



Of the lemon there are two kinds, the sweet and the sour. The for- 

 mercomesinto marketin November, aud lasts only a short time. Though 

 quite juicy it has but little flavor. The rind abounds with a highly 

 fragrant oil, resembling berganiot in odor. The fruit is much appre- 

 ciated by the natives ; but it is not exported. The sour or acid lemon 

 attains at Jaila a very large size, while the acid is less sharp and of a 

 more delicate flavor than that of the lemon of other countries. It is 

 more and more extensively grown each year, with the object of expor- 

 tation, though in the past chiefly produced for the home market. 



Situation. — The distance of the orange and lemon gardens at Jaffa 

 from the sea is from one-fourth of a mile to 3 English miles. Here 

 the trees flourish, and find altogether an environment best adapted to 

 their superior development. The elevation above the sea-level is from 

 50 to 100 feet. The larger part of the environs of Jaffa occupied by 

 these gardens must be considered level, and only a small portiou of it 

 can be called slightly rolling laud. Tlie trees seem to do best in such 

 a situation, and with sufficient exposure to the suu, which here there is 

 no lack of. 



Soil. — The character of the soil in which the trees best succeed is a 

 sandy clay. It is considered that a mixture conducive to the highest 

 results would be 75 per cent, of the beach sand with 25 per cent, of 

 alluvium, and containing a good proportion of alkaline salts. The 

 subsoil is chiefly clay. 



Climate. — The average temperature at Jaffa is in the daytime, 70° to 

 71° Pahr.; and at night, 55° to 56° Fahr. The minimum temperature 

 is 32° Fahr.; the maximum, 107° Fahr. The nights are usually cool, 

 while the days are warm or sultry. The ordinary atmosphere, affected 

 by the sea breezes, is, in general, moist. The rainfall varies from 17 

 to 30 inches per annum. The growth of trees and fruits are accelerated 

 during the "rainy season;" but as irrigation is constantly employed 

 here during the " dry season," the difference is not so perceptible as it 

 would be under other conditions. 



Irrigation. — Within a circuit of 4 miles around Jaffa, the gardens are 

 irrigated. The water is found at depths of from 20 to 60 feet below the 

 surface, wells being sunk to these depths. The water is raised by 

 water-wheels moved by horse-power. The trees are irrigated during 

 the entire of the " dry season," which generally lasts from May till 

 November. The flowering of the trees usually begins by the middle of 

 March, and continues till the middle of April. The trees are watered 

 once a week, and during the night, to save evaporation ; the quantity 

 of water distributed by the drains may be estimated at about 15 cubic 

 meters to the acre, per diem. 



Vultivatii)n.—Th&so\\of the gardens is dug at different times; but 

 at least twice a year, generally in the spring and autumn. 



