236 
Journal of Agricultural Research 
Vol. XXIII, No. 4 
frost. Some measure of the dormancy of the kumquats is indicated by 
the fact that they flower from two to three months later than other 
citrous trees. 
This series of crosses between the lime and the kumquats was made at 
Eustis, Fla., in June, 1909, in the Citrus grove of Mr. F. W. Savage. These 
crosses resulted in a number of hybrids varying in character, but all 
having fruits much like the lime in quality. Attention has been attracted 
to one of these hybrids (C. P. B. No. 48798) that fruited during the 
summer of 1918 in the greenhouse of the Department of Agriculture 
at Washington, D. C. It resulted from fertilizing the flowers of the 
common or West Indian lime with pollen of the round kumquat. 
The Eustis limequat fruit is of striking appearance, strongly resem¬ 
bling a West India lime in color, size, and texture. (PI. 4.) The color is 
a light yellow, resembling the color of grapefruit. When cut, the fruit 
shows its lime-like character. It is very juicy, thin-skinned, has few 
seeds, and the flavor can hardly be distinguished even by an expert from 
the true lime. Moreover, the rind is edible, like that of the kumquat, 
so that the whole fruit may be utilized. It is particularly promising 
as a fruit for crystallizing. The spines on the bearing wood are 
very inconspicuous, a decided point in favor of this hybrid in contrast 
with the viciously spiny character of the common lime. Some of the 
other limequats exhibit rather long spines, even on the small twigs. 
Observations covering several seasons indicate that this limequat possesses 
much of the immunity to disease and insect pests enjoyed by the kum¬ 
quat. The kumquat is the most resistant to Citrus-canker of all citrous 
varieties, a resistance amounting to practical immunity, an advantage 
the limequat has in some degree. 
Specimens submitted to Citrus experts and growers have in every case 
elicited favorable opinions, it being held that the limequat’s place in 
citrous fruit culture is not dependent entirely upon unusual hardiness. 
Even should it prove no more hardy than the sweet orange, it would still 
be of great value throughout the orange-growing regions, as the lime is 
so extremely tender that its culture is now almost entirely confined to 
the protected keys along the Florida coast. This hybrid, as well as 
several sister hybrids of this limequat, have been fruited at Glen St. 
Mary, Fla., in the northern tier of Florida counties, but were killed in 
the successive freezes of 1917 and 1918. With a little protection while 
young, and during unusually severe weather, it is probable that this 
hardy form of lime could be grown in the warmer parts of the Gulf Coast, 
supplying a real need in this region. 
In Florida, California lemons are not obtainable owing to the quaran¬ 
tine restrictions necessary to prevent the introduction of “brown rot.” 
Sicilian lemons are often expensive and are only obtainable in the larger 
towns, so that it often happens that a good acid citrous fruit for ade 
making is a decided scarcity even in Citrus-growing territory. 
Budding experiments on different stocks are in progress and the 
present indications are that the limequat will thrive on most of 
the stocks commonly used except sour orange. Unlike the Thomasville 
citrangequat the Eustis limequat does not come true from seed. Nursery 
propagation is chiefly confined to the rough lemon and trifoliate orange 
stocks. Like the lime, if planted low and mounded with soil the limequat 
bud will strike root, thus simplifying the stock question. Its fruiting sea¬ 
son is also of importance. To be of the greatest service in the home fruit 
garden it should bear the bulk of its crop in the warm summer months. 
