826 
differs to an alarming extent. The Llmoncella proper 
seems to prefer a very hot climate. The Rosmarina di 
Napoli hardly extends to Sicily, while the Llmoncella is 
entirely at home in Sicily, and is there one of their very 
best apples. The name when you speak of the tree is Melo 
Limoncello, but when you speak of the fruit it is Mela 
Llmoncella, plural, Melo Limoncello. The name of course 
is derived from the resemblance to a lemon, in size, shape 
and color. The Llmoncella is truncate at the apex. These 
apples are now abundant in the market and sell at three 
for four soldi, retail. An even better apple is the Ce- 
rina, twice the size, pale waxy yellow, with reddish brown 
cheek. Crisp, juicy, sweet and subacid. Really one of 
the best apples I have tasted. It is remarkable on ac- 
count of its sweetness, like sugar indeed, at the same 
time subacid. This also is now in the market, and if I 
can come across some in Naples I will bring you a sample, 
though the quality at this time is not as good as it was 
in February, when it was simply splendid. It upset my 
former opinion as regards the quality of the larger kinds 
of apples grown in the south. I am sorry that the Harrar 
fig cuttings did not arrive in prime shape. But they 
looked sickly when I got them and I could not get any more 
then. The fig is quite remarkable, sweeter than any fig I 
have ever tasted, and it should be fine for seedlings. It 
is not above medium in size. It certainly is not a vari- 
ety of Ficus carica but more likely F. jjseudocarica . It 
looks very curious. I saw it first some ten years ago in 
Sicily. But my friend the proprietor has since died. He 
was Count Grimaldl, near Syracusa. I wonder if his numer- 
ous hybrid grapes, some most remarkable, were ever intro- 
duced into the United States?" 
