ORANGES AND LKMON'K IN SYKIA. 443 



uot troubled with injurious insects, i)e.sts, or fungouK growtli ; want of 

 irrigation checks the growth of the trees. 



Orchard trees are planted 10 to 12 feet apart in each direction. Both 

 orange and lemon trees are planted as shrubs in such a manner that 

 several stems come out of the ground together, although there are some 

 orchards where the trees have but one stem ; those, however, planted as 

 bushes protect the fruit better against the influence of the wind. The 

 orchards are planted, as a custom, along the sea-coast, where they yield 

 most abundantly on level land ; inland orchards never do so well. As the 

 orchards require a sandy soil, they are planted as uear as one-fourth of 

 a mile up to some miles distance from the sea-shore. Every orange or 

 lemon orchard is cultivated by a system of artificial irrigation, irrigated 

 twice or three times a week (in the evening part of the day). The 

 ground in orchards between trees is cultivated twice a year — in the fall 

 before the rain appears and in spring when the rainy season is over. 

 The value of the yield of an acre per annum of best orchards amounts to 

 from $80 to $100; the cost of cultivation amounts to about $10. The 

 returns would be much larger if the orange were exported to Europe ; 

 the above statements therefore relate only to home consumption. 



Jacob Sciittmachek, 



Consular Agent. 



United States Consular Agency, 



Haifa, February 20, 1SS4. 



MERSINA. 



JtEPOJfT J3T CONSULAR AGENT DAWSON. 



Yariftie.<<. — The best variety for profit is the bitter orange ; the next 

 varieties worthy of culture are lemons and oranges. The above three 

 varieties are grown at Adana, Tarsus, and Mersina. 



Situation.— Dista.uce from sea : Adana, 13 miles : Tarsus, 15 miles ; 

 and Mersina on the sea shore. Elevation above sea level from 1 to 5 

 yards; the trees have full exposure to sun ; level laud is the best. 



Soil. — Rich soil' 6 feet ; subsoil gravel. 



Climate.— The frost would destroy the trees, and also the dry winds 

 in summer, if not watered. The trees only fear the frost, and the dry- 

 ness of soil ; the heat does not affect them when watered. Gold nights 

 irt winter without frost, moist atmosphere. 



Bainfall.—Ra.m-fei\l from 18 to 20 inches ; the trees are watered by 

 irrigation in the dry season. Rain falls in ISTovember, December, March, 

 April, and May. The trees get watered two or three times a week in 

 June, July, August, and September, and until sufBcient rain comes. 



Irrigation.— For irrigation the water is taken from the Sarus river 

 which passes through Adana, the Oydnus through Tarsus, and the Mer- 



