896 PEUIT CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES. 



The average crop per acre of citron can hardly be ascertained, as the 

 size of a crop depends upon so many conditions — such as the climate 

 and soil. If we assume that each shrub or tree is planted 3 yards from, 

 every other, which by many growers is regarded as the best arrange- 

 ment, we should have 1,110 shrubs to the hectare. If the average prod- 

 uct of each shrub be assumed to be 14 citrons, we should have a total 

 product of 15,400 citrons to the hectare, equivalent to 6,231 citrons to 

 the acre ; or, assuming the average weight of the fruit to be IJ pounds, 

 about 9,346 pounds to the acre. 



The cost of production varies so greatly in different localities and at 

 •different times that no trustworthy and generally useful answer to the 

 question of cost can be given. In the neighborhood of Genoa, how- 

 ever, it is roughly estimated at about $68 per acre. 



More citron is imported into than is exported from Italy. The fol- 

 lowing table shows the imports and exports of citron for three years : 



The greater part of the imports of citron comes from France, and 

 nearly all from the island of Corsica. 



Citron is chiefly prepared for the market at Leghorn, which is the 

 most important citron port in the Mediterranean. The fruit is first put 

 into a salt pickle, in which it is allowed to lie for three months. This 

 pickling in the case of the Corsican fruit is done to a limited extent by 

 the Corsican citron grower, but as a rule it is done after the Corsican 

 fruit reaches Leghorn. The next process consists in dividing the fruit 

 into halves and quarters, and packing them into sugar sirup. The 

 sirup when first used is weak, but its strength is gradually increased 

 by additions. Four weeks is the ordinary period during which the 

 fruit remains packed in sugar, after which it is feady for the market. 



The market price everywhere fluctuates greatly. During the present 

 year the price at Leghorn has varied from $14.47 to $22.19 per 50 kilo- 

 grams, or 110.20 pounds. To some extent, so it is said, these fluctua- 

 tions were due to the speculative condition of the market in New York, 

 where the price has varied greatly. 



William L. Alden, 



Co)isvl-General. 



United States Consulate-General, 



Rome, November 29, 1885. 



