ORANGES AND LEMONS IN MESaiNA. 495 



MESSINA. 



REPORT BY OnvWSEL JONES. 



ORANGES AND LEMONS. 



Varieties. — Best variety for profit, the citrus lusitanicum (orange) ; 

 (■ityas lusioniuni and citrus fusifonne lemon. Other choice varieties 

 worthy of culture and for profit are the citrus bergamia (bergamot) ; cit- 

 rus deliciosa (mandarin) ; citrus Itiiretta. There are some thirty other 

 varieties of less note. 



Location.— ^The finest lemon-groves are in the neighborhood of Briga, 

 Pezznolo, Giampilieri, Sauto Stefano, Saponara, Eometta. The finest 

 orange groves at Francavilla and Rouella, in the valley of the Alcan- 

 tara. 



Distance from sea. — Leinon trees do better nearer the sea than orange 

 trees ; they thrive at from J to 2 miles from the shore ; orange trees 

 from 2 to 6 miles. 



Elevation. — The greatest elevation at which lemon trees do well is 

 1,500 feet. Orange trees do well at 2,700 feet above sea-level. 



A southern exposure is best; but it requires the most water. A 

 northern exposure is generally too cold. An eastern exposure exposes 

 the trees to April frosts. A western exposure is always damp. 



The lemon, like the vine, delights in hill-sides, facing south. Plains, 

 as well as hill- sides, are well suited to the orange. 



Soil, etc. — In this district the finest lemon groves are on argillo-calca- 

 reous soil of the Tertiary period, and on calcareo-argillaceoas soil of 

 the Quaternary period. These two soils are the best for both oranges 

 and lemons. Sandy soil is not well adapted to orange and lemon cult- 

 ure, as it is too thirsty. When grown on sandy soil these trees are 

 small and their late fruit (fi'uit from the last June blossoms, which at 

 latest mast be gathered in February and March) is spongy and nnfit 

 for transportation. Oranges do better than lemons on sandy soil. 



Glimatic Influences. — The climatic influences in this district are sel- 

 dom injurious to orange and lemon trees. The lemon requires an 

 equable climate to produce perfect fruit. The orange and mandarin are 

 hardier and sufiFer less from sudden changes of temperature ; they do 

 well at a higher elevation than the lemon and at a greater distance from 

 the sea. 



Temperature.— The temperature in this orange and lemon district 

 ranges from 34° to 100° Fahr. ; should it, however, exceed those limits 

 for a few hours only the trees soon rally. During the winter of 1887 

 the mercury fell to 22°, and the tender twigs were frozen ; these being 

 at once cut away, the trees were none the worse for the cold. During 

 the summers of 1888 and 1889 the mercury rose to 103° ; an extra supply 

 of water soon made the trees look as green as ever. 



