44 AGRICULTURAL EXPLORATIONS IN THE ORCHARDS OF CHINA. 



10-inch snowfall two days before, but although the trees had been 

 shattered by the snow they had not suffered at all from the cold. 



KUMQUATS. 



The kumquat (Citrus japonica) is a small fruit which is very much 

 appreciated in China. All who have ever had a good Chinese dinner 

 know how this fruit is served, preserved in sugar or sirup. It is 

 worthy of being more widely known b}^ the western nations than it is 

 at present. There are a few varieties of this fruit cultivated by the 

 Chinese differing in size and shape. The elongated form, however, 

 seems to be the most highly appreciated and is found in the fall of the 

 year in all the markets and fruit stands, being sent even as far north 

 as Peking. 



POMELOS AND SHADDOCKS. 



Several varieties of pomelos and shaddocks (Citrus decumana) are 

 found in China. The orchards, however, exist near Amoy and Can- 

 ton and the writer never saw any trees except some dwarfed ones in 

 nurseries. The fruits themselves are plentiful in Shanghai, being 

 served even on the tables of the foreign hotels. One variety of 

 pomelo is particularly good and is called by foreigners the "Amoy" 

 pomelo. It is of a flat shape, has a loose skin, and its segments 

 separate as easily as those of an orange. It has a sweet flavor and 

 when it is fresh the fruit is quite juicy, differing from some other 

 kinds that are extremely dxy, even when not old. This class of sweet 

 pomelos, the segments of which separate easily, is never served as a 

 breakfast fruit but is eaten as a dessert, served in segments. Coming 

 after the oranges have gone, this variety fills a decided gap in dessert 

 fruits on the tables of people living in the Far East. (S. P. I. Nos. 

 21870 and 25506.) 



LEMONS. 



Iii China the lemon is apparently not grown as a fruit tree, for 

 lemons are rather scarce and expensive, being imported from outside 

 countries. In Peking and Tientsin the price of lemons in winter is 

 sometimes as high as 20 cents in our money apiece. 



As an ornamental plant, however, lemons are very much appre- 

 ciated as dwarfed pot plants. The idea is to have as many fruits as 

 possible on the smallest possible plant. A plant with a dozen or 

 more fruits on it will sell in Peking in the winter for as much as $10. 

 The particular variety used for this purpose slips easily and is raised 

 from cuttings. The fruit is large, very smooth, and thin skinned, 

 very juicy, only slightly sour, and is practically seedless. (S. P. I. 

 Nos. 21905 and 23028.) 



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