HOC KINGS 



GARDEN MANUAL. 



101 



The refreshing acid juice of the former is applied to 

 a variety of useful purposes, aud the rind is preserved 

 and imported under the name of " candied peel." The 

 tree grows to the height of fifteen feet. 



In India, where the lime attains perfection, the juice 

 is thought more agreeable than that of the lemon, and 

 it is used squeezed over fish and meat, imparting to 

 them a pleasant zest. The lime juice of commerce, so 

 favorably known for its cooling and anti-scorbutic pro- 

 perties, is prepared from this fruit. The tree grows 

 to the height of eight feet. 



They may both be propagated by seeds, layers, and 

 cuttings, but the most usual course is to graft or bud 

 them on common stocks. 



THE LOQUAT— (Eriobotrya Japcmica). 



A handsome evergreen tree, growing to the height 

 of fifteen feet. It is the earliest of spring fruits, and 

 the abundance of long racemes of bright yellow fruit, 

 bending the branches in graceful curves, relieved by a 

 background of lar^e, dark green leaves, renders the 

 tree a conspicuous and ornamental obj ect. It is a native 

 of Japan, as the name indicates, and is perfectly hardy 

 in this climate. 



It may be propagated by seeds, layers, suckers, and 

 cuttings ; and may be dwarfed by grafting upon the 

 quince, to which it is allied. 



It has been found to bear larger crops of superior 

 fruit when planted in well-trenched ridge land (hilly, 

 rather stony, forest land) than when planted in scrub 

 soil. 



The trees may be planted twenty feet apart. Prick 

 in with the fork a light top-dressing of well rotted 

 manure annually, as soon as the fruit is gathered. 

 Thin out straggling and inside branches, when necessary, 

 to keep the tree open. Watch the fruit as it ripens, 



