584 FKUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



Disease. — Unlike the orange, which presents a fine, close head of 

 deep-green foliage, the lemon forms a straggling bush or small tree 10 

 or 12 feet high, with paler, more scattered leaves, and short, angular 

 branches, with sharp spines in the axils. 



In damp valleys the lemon is liable to be attacked by a fungus (the 

 JDematium monophylium), which covers the stem, leaves, and fruit with a 

 black dust. Trees grown in the shade and not properly exposed to the 

 sunlight suffer most severely from this cause. Syringing with milk of 

 lime when the young insects are hatched, and before they have fixed 

 themselves on the plants, is found to be the most effectual remedy known 

 for these pests. 



Planting. — In some places 7 to 8 paces, say 18 feet, is considered a 

 sufacient distance between both kind of trees, but generally there is no 

 strict rule for either. 



Situation. — Orchards and orange gardens are to be found thriving in 

 almost every situation suitable for the cultivation of the grape, but 

 they give the best results when situated on hill-sides or gentle slopes, 

 where, together with a good supply of moisture under ground, they are 

 exposed to a gentle heat by day, and fresh, cool breezes by night. As 

 before mentioned, they suffer and fade when deprived of light as well as 

 warmth, and they never prove successful when the ground is damp for 

 long in summer or is not properly drained. Both oranges and lemons 

 thrive in a rich soil, and succeed well in good, strong clay with moder 

 ate care and attention. 



Although it is not the best situation for them, both lemons and 

 oranges can be grown close to the sea-coast, especially lemons, which 

 are more hardy than oranges. 



They are strongest in the Archipelago, and on some of the islands 

 they flourish almost anywhere as long as their roots do not come in con- 

 tact with salt water. 



Irrigation. — When the trees are young they are generally well watered 

 by hand during the summer, but there is no system of artificial irriga- 

 tion in general use, and the ground receives a similar treatment to that 

 bestowed on the vineyards cultivated by the natives, as before men- 

 tioned. 



Yield, — Oranges, when gathered for export, should be quite ripe. 

 Those fully formed and wilh the color just turning from green to yel- 

 low are choserw They are wrapped in fine paper or in the husk of In- 

 dian corn. A tree 20 feet in height and occupying a space of about 20 

 feet in diameter will frequently yield from 3,000 to 4,000 oranges in the 

 course of the year. Many trees live from one hundred to one hundred 

 and fifty years. As lemons are more profitable to grow than oranges 

 on account of their keeping qualities and their being less liable to injury 

 during voyages, their cultivation is preferred in many parts of the Le- 

 vant. The lemons are gathered green ; the finest are picked out and 

 packed in cases containing abouf 420 fruits ; also in boxes, three of 



