510 FRUIT CULTCJRE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



The facility with which this insect propagates itself, and the rapid 

 increase consequent thereon, result, in a comparatively short time, in 

 the death or serious injury to the trees. The mode of attack of this 

 insect is by eating a hole in the tree from which soon exudes a profuse 

 flow of juice, resulting in death or serious injury thereof, as stated. 



The coccus citry lodges in trees having thick leaves, and especially in 

 those shaded by larger trees or plants. In this contingency pruning is 

 resorted to, with a view of letting in light, and thus causes the insect to 

 seek another refuge or die. No specific is known to combat this insect, 

 but the usual mode of relief therefrom is by wasldng the trees with lime 

 water. 



Other very injurious insects abound such as the Kermes coccineus, 

 Kermes hesperidum, Kermes aurantU, Lecanium liesperidum, and Pidocchio, 

 which prefer the orange to the lemon trees. These, too, are destroyed 

 by lime water, solutions of copper, sulphate thereof, etc., petroleum, 

 snuff, etc. 



Beneficial insects. — Terrestrial formicas or ants destroy other destruc- 

 tive insects and their eggs, but in their absence they gnaw the tender 

 branches and leaves, thus causing them to atrophy. Therefore all efforts 

 are made to destroy the ants as in the case of other insects, hoeing the 

 ground in winter being resorted to as a means to that end, thus expos- 

 ing them to inclement and cold weather, death generally ensuing as a 

 consequence. 



Parasites. — The litchens, which attach themselves to old trees, those 

 attached by male della gomma. Shady and moist places favor the 

 development of litchens. Sea water is used as a wash to get rid of this 

 parasite. 



The fumagine evoluting from the agglomeration of microscopic plants, 

 technically called capnodium or Fumago citry, The fumagine attacks 

 all varieties of oranges and lemons and causes grave damage. The 

 trees attacked suffer greatly, the yield thereof being very small. The 

 fumagine attacks the trunks, branches, leaves, and fruit. Only the 

 epidermis or outsite of the fruit is attacked. This i)arasite is destroyed 

 by means of pruning and manuring in January. 



LEMON AND ORANGE GROVES. 



The trees that produce the varieties named at the beginning of this 

 report are grown in Sicily. 



Distance from sea. — There is no fixed distance from sea for planting 

 orange and lemon trees. There are mauy orange and lemon gardens in 

 the vicinity of Palermo, bordering on Ihe sea, some of which prosper 

 better than those situated more inland. This, however, obtains only 

 when the gardeners are skilled men and give particular attention to the 

 ground and adopt propei' means with a view of protecting the ti'ees from 

 strong sea-winds. 



