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it. Pinch out all the side growths, these spring from the base of the 

 leaves, and are easily distinguished from the bunches of fruits. The 

 plants will bear much more fruit if trained in this way, than if left to 

 grow with several stems or branches. 



Dig up the land thoroughly before planting. Water the plants as 

 soon as they are planted if there is no rain, water every other day for 

 three weeks after planting, after which water twice a week until the 

 fruits begin to colour, when once a week will be often enough to water. 



The land should be naturally rich as heavy manuring tends to spread 

 disease. 



Carter's Perfection and Dedham Favourite are excellent Tomatoes. 

 Blenheim Orange is a good yellow Tomatoe. 



A crop of fruit is now ripening at Hope Gardens, and those who 

 are interested in the cultivation are invited to see the growing plants. 



NOTES ON ORANGES AND LEMONS. 



From U. S. Consular Reports. 



Orange and Lemon Crop in Southern Italy. — Consul Dean writes 

 from Naples, October 7, 1895 : 



The Island of Sicily is the most productive centre of southern It lay of 

 oranges and lemons. The exportation of these fruits to the United States 

 from the Bay of Naples is wholly from Castellamere di Stabia and Sorrento. 

 After Sicily in productiveness come Rodi, the Sorrentine peninsula, and 

 the province of Calabria. The harvesting of the Sorrentine crop usually 

 begins the last of November and ends in August, while in some parts of 

 southern Italy the seaaon often begins as late as December and ends in 

 July. From nearly every quarter I learn that last season's crop was 

 greatly injured by the frost, rain, and strong winds, and that most of the 

 shipments to the United States were at a heavy loss to the consignors. 

 Rodi oranges of the best quality produced in Italy and enjoying a high re- 

 putation in America were abso-lutely depreciated. The trees are still 

 suffering from tho effects of theextreme weather of last year. The 

 coming season is not full of pro-mise. It is estimated that the orange 

 and lemon crop will be less than last year, or two thirds of the average. 

 The above applies to all citrus fruits of southern Italy. 



Bitter Orange Trees for Grafting. — Consul Seymour writes from 

 Palermo, October 22, 1895 : 



In Sicily, the bitter-orange is mostly used for the grafting of orange 

 and lemon trees, as the best results are obtained from it. The bitter 

 orange tree is produced in the following manner : A w r ell-manured bed 

 is prepared, and in March bitter orange seed are inserted about 2 inches 

 apart in it. The seeds sprout in April or May, and are left to grow in 

 the same bed for about two years ; the plants are then removed in 

 January or February and planted in single rows, well manured, at a 

 distance of 6 or 7 feet apart. After about three years, depending on 

 the strength of the soil, the sprouts are again transplanted in January 

 or February, placing them about 16 inches apart. TThen the trunks 

 of the small bitter orange trees are three inches in diameter, they are 

 ready for grafting purposes. The grafting is usually done in May, but 

 may be done as late as August, provided it is not done in wet weather. 



