For centuries the Lychee has been esteemed in 
South China where it has been brought to a high 
state of perfection. The fruit is most highly prized 
Ipelismiresiecicic, out it is also dried, canned and 
preserved in a number of ways. 
In this country the dried fruit, often known as 
"Lychee nut’, has been known to diners in Chinese 
restaurants and to others who have received them 
as gifts from Chinese friends on holidays and fes- 
tive occasions. Until recently, the few fresh fruit 
that were produced in Florida have gone almost 
exclusively to Chinese in northern cities. 
Trees of the Brewster variety of Lychee, now the 
most popular commercial strain, were first introduc- 
ed into Florida in 1907. The fresh fruit is the size of 
a large strawberry and bright red in color. It is 
covered with a thin, tough and brittle skin which, 
when removed, reveals a glistening translucent 
flesh surrounding a single seed. In flavor the Ly- 
chee is deliciously different, high in sugar content, 
and rarely fails to win new devotees with the first 
taste. 
The Lychee bears in Florida generally from June 
20 to July 10), Blooms appear in panicles in late 
winter. Owners of bearing trees have never failed 
to find a ready market for their fruit and it has been 
estimated that the current average price of 75 cents 
a pound to growers will continue to hold for many 
years to come. Retail prices of $1.50 a pound have 
found a firm acceptance. Experimental mail order 
sale promotion has shown that a wide market 
among new customers awaits the time when greater 
production has been attained. 
Because of the active demand for all the fresh 
fruit that can be produced by growers, little attempt 
has been made to find methods of canning or pre- 
serving Florida grown Lychees. It has been dem- 
onstrated that the fruit can be satisfactorily pre- 
served by quick freezing and samples have been 
kept in perfect condition for long periods by this 
means. No extensive experiments have been under- 
taken to produce dried Lychees in Florida. 
