September i, 1887.] THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 181 
citron-producing district of the Mediterranean basin. 
The cultivation of the citron plant, however, requires the 
greatest care, it being much more tender and delicate 
than either the lemon or the orange. It begins with 
the sowing of the seed of the bitter orange, being the 
same seed from the fruit of which marmalade is made. 
After four or five years, when the seed has produced 
plants or small trees, they are transplanted at the time 
of blossoming in regular rows, at a distance which 
depends much upon the location and nature of the 
soil. It varies from 3 to 4 yards in different localities. 
"When the locality is warm, and the soil is naturally 
rich, mellow, and of easy culture, the distance between 
the trees must be greater than when the soil is hard 
and the climate colder, because the trees will grow 
more luxuriantly and form larger tops. But the judg- 
ment of the horticulturist must determine this matter. 
When the plants have a diameter of about 2 or 3 inches 
they are grafted with small citron branches. The graft- 
ing is indispensable to give long life to the trees and 
hasten the production of the fruit. Three years after 
the grafting the trees are again transplanted to the 
orchard iuto a ditch about 40 iuches wide and about 
the same depth, at a distance of between 4 and 5 yards 
from one another. 
In planting the trees in the ditch particular care 
should be taken not to injure any part of the roots. 
The leaves are taken from the trees, and the branches 
cut back to the length of 8 inches. The ditch is filled 
with earth to a depth not exceeding 10 inches, and 
left sufficiently loose to allow the roots to spread with 
eaie and prevent smothering the plants. If the plants 
do not sprout at once the earth round the roots is 
loosened and moistened. For fertilizing old manure 
should be applied. No fresh mauure ought to be used, 
because it would be injurious, and have a tendency to 
kill the plants. Manure should be used only in the 
winter ("that is, iu Southern Europe, between October 
and March,), and be placed at a distance of from 4 
to 6 inches from the roots. Around the tree a deepen- 
ing in the shape of a basin should be formed, and, 
unless the grouud be moist or damp the plants require 
frequent applications of water during the summer. 
As a geueral guide, it may be taken that the rest of 
the cultivation is the same as for the orange and lemon. 
The tree requires great protection against severe cold 
or very warm winds, as well as against hail-storms. 
The amount and kind of artificial protection needed 
must, of course, be determined by the climate ; but in 
Naples, were the citron is largely cultivated, in order 
to give it as much protection as possible, hedges are 
planted, and coverings of straw mattiug or something 
similar provided, having regard, of course, to the situ- 
ation of the tree and the means within reach of the 
cultivators. 
The tree blossoms in Southern Europe between March 
and May, and up to the mouths of September and 
October, at. which time the fruit is ripe. In about two 
or three years' time the grafts will begin to bear fruit. 
The average crop per acre of citron can hardly be ascer- 
tained, us the size of a crop depends upon so many con- 
ditions, sue!) as tho climate and soil. If we assume that 
each shrub or tree is planted three yards from every 
other which by many grow-rs is regarded as the best 
arrangement, there would bo about 450 shrubs to the 
noro. If tho average product of each shrub be assumod 
to be 14 citrons, we should have a total product of 
C.300 citrous to the acre. In some parts, however, tho 
citron-tree bears a much larger quaiitity of fruit tbau 
this estimate. In Messina, for instance, a citron-tree 
boxrs from 35 to 50 citrous. Much depends upon the 
climate and method of cultivation. To propagate by 
cuttings, young healthy shoots that are straight are 
solected. They should be about 1 foot iu length, and 
must lio planted on tho ground to the depth of 4 or 
6 inc hes ID a soil similar to that used for seed. Care 
should he taken to plant the cutting upright, as it grows 
upon the tree. When the cutting becomes well rooted, 
mid has had a health? growth of a year or two, it may 
bo removed for final planting to the orekacdi 
Ah to tho cost of production, it varies so greatly 
in different localities and at different times that no 
trustworthy and generally mefol answer to the.qiiest nm 
of cost can be given. The greatest part of the ex- 
pense in the cultivation is caused by covering the tree 
to protect it against the winds ; but in mild climates 
this expense is not incurred, aud the only outlay is for 
manuring and hoeing. These expenses vary according 
to the price of labour in the different localities. "We 
may, however, say, as a general indication, that the 
cost for manure and cultivation in the best orchards per 
hectare (about 2-i- acres), as estimated by a practical 
grower at Catania, is on the average, 261. The exact 
amount of profit cannot be given, as it varies accord- 
ing to the price obtained for the fruit, which is subject 
to great fluctuations. In Corsica for instance, where 
the citron is cultivated to a very large extent, when 
the crops were large the fruit sold for 12j. a quintal 
(229 lbs.) ; while at other times, when the crop was 
small, 41. a quintal was paid. Great care is taken in 
prepariug the fruit for the market. Iu Sicily aud other 
places, where the citron is exported in its natural 
state, each individual fruit is carefully cleaned of all 
the insects or injurious matter with a sponge and cold 
water - , and is wiped perfectly dry before boxing. 
The boxes for the fruit are so constructed that they 
will hold from 250 to 360 of the fruit. 
The citrons which are subsequently converted into 
the candied citron of commerce are grown chiefly in 
Greece, Calabria, and the islands of Sicily and Corsica. 
The citron is chiefly prepared for the market at Leghorn 
which is the mos 1- . important citron port in the Mediter- 
ranean. The fruit is shipped to the factories for candy- 
ing sometimes in sacks, but usually in large hogsheads 
filled with brine. On being unpacked they are placed 
in tubs containing fresh brine, and left for about a 
month. The brine is then renewed, and the fruit may 
remain in it until required for use, even for a period of 
four or five months. When the citrons are to be can- 
died they are taken out of these tubs and boiled in 
fresh water until sufficiently soft, which is ascertain- 
ed by testing them with a fork. This usually takes 
about one hour and a quarter. They are then cut in- 
to pieces, and, after the seeds have been carefully 
removed, they are immersed iu cold water aud left for 
twenty-four hours, during which they become a green 
colour. After this they are placed iu large earthen 
jars with hot syrup, which should entirely cover them. 
There they remain about three weeks. During this 
time the proportion of sugar in the syrup is gradually 
increased. They are then put into boilers, with crys- 
tallised sugar dissolved in a little water, and cooked ; 
then allowed to cool for twenty-four hours, and boiled 
again until they can absorb no more sugar. Then they 
are taken out of the boilers and placed on a wire 
netting to dry. They are now ready for picking, and 
are placed iu small wooden boxes, containing about 
25 lbs. each. These, in their turn, are packed in cases 
which contain usually ten of them. 
The proportion of sugar used in candying is about 
80 lbs. of sugar to 100 lbs. of citron, and the kiud 
used at Leghorn is generally Egyptian crystallised 
sugar. The citrous, both fresh aud in brioe, are 
exported iu immense quantities from Messina, Palermo, 
and other places to foreign countries, but chiefly to 
the English markets.— British Trade Journal. 
VITALITY OE SEEDS. 
A change of residence from Jamaica to Trinidad has 
prevented my sowing until to-day Mr. Watson's com- 
ments on my note relating to •' Transmission of Seeds 
from the Tropics. " On referring to my note, however, 
I cau find uothing to justify Mr. "NVatsou in making 
the assertion that I comdemned paper bags for the 
transmission of seeds to the Tropics. I did not do so; 
what I intended to convey, and, now reiterate as an in- 
controvertible fact, is, that thcquality of European seeds 
is depreciated by being kept in canvas or paper bugs 
" after they arrive in the Tropics. " In hermetically 
sealed tin cases, provided the seeds are put up 
when the humidity of the atmosphere is in a proper 
condition, it will be fouud that tin' seeds retain vitality 
for a much longer period ; but the cases should be 
small, one for each variety, and should only be openi d 
when required. I may say here that I am writiutf with 
