The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-05-05
Litchi.
NEPHELIUM LITCIl.

tree OF dense lOlldSC' nav -
T. blossoms about the middle of Feb
ruarv with sprays of small .pale-green
flowers. and ripens its large punches
Of truit about the end Of April or be-
ginning of May. The fruit is OF the
Size and form of large plum, with
rough, thin, scale-like rind which,
while the fruit is hanging ripe upon
the tree. is of beautiful red tinge,
but gradually becomes of a dull
brown color a short time after gath
cred. The pulp Of the fruit, which
is as delicious, perhaps, as that OF
any fruit in existence, resembles the
white of a plover's egg, and contains
in it's center a stone. In the best
fruit the stone is very small compar-
atively: and in this respect the fruit
produced on different trees varies
much.
II is stated that there is only one
province in China where the Litchi
is grown to perfection. In the gar
dens. however, about Calcutta, and
at Chinsura in particular, fruit of the
finest quality imaginable may be met
with. That produced on the trees
in the Calcutta Botanical Gardens is
of a very inferior description, the
pulp being scanty in quality and acid
in flavor. Fruit of a similar kind
likewise is usually sold in the CAL
cutta bazars, probably the produce OF
trees formerly distributed from the
Botanic Gardens. have tasted the
varlously named kinds in the gar
dens Of the Agri. Horticultural Soci-
ETY., from which plants are propa-
gated for distribution and in my
opinion the sort called McLean's is
decidedly the best, though not finer
than is frequently met with III prl-
vate gardens,
A variety is TO be found IN some
gardens, though rather rare, bearing
fruit OF conical form, quite green
when ripe, distinct i'll flavor, and OF
very sweet taste.
The Chinese suffer the fruit to dry
till it becomes black and shriveled,
in which condition 1t is commonly
met with tor sale in the London gro
GERS shops.
1t loves a damp climate and album
dance of water. ! had several in
the lowermost part OF my garden
which were swamped for more than a
week during the heavy rains in Au-
gust. Most plants under such cir
cumstances would have persisted, but
these seemed benefited thereby.
Litchls may be propagated by
seed, which it is said will not keep,
but must be sown at once; but the
sure way to obtain plants that will
produce good fruit is to propagate
by gootee about the end of May.
The gootee made at that time will
be ready for removing and potting
off by the commencement OF the
cold weather; and may be planted
out, where it is to remain in the tot,
lowing rainy season.
GOOTEE.
The mode OF propagation by goo
tee is thus described by Mr.. Masters,
formerly head gardener III the Cal
cutta Botanical Gardens:
Select a firm, healthy branch, the
wood Of which is well ripened and
Immediately under the leatbud take
off a small ring OF bark, about one
inch wide. Scrape the woody part
well, so that no bark remains. APP.
ply ball Of well tempered clay,
bind it on securely with tow or
other soft bandage; make 1t fast to
a stake if necessary ; hang small
pot, having a hole in the bottom, just
over the gootee and supply it with
water daily. Unless some precan-
ton be taken the water in the pot
above the gootee will flow out too
fast. and very often not fall on the
eootee at all. To obviate this there
fore, the following contriyance is
commonly resorted to:
A piece OF rope has knot tied at
one end OF it; the other end is
passed within the pot and drawn
through the hole at its bottom till
the knot is brought down to tall upon
and close up the hole. The rope
thus secured by its knotted end
within the pot is carried on at tull
stretch and coiled around the gootee.
By this means the water, when poured
into the pot oozes slowly out, trick
les down the rope and along the col,
and so distributes itself over the
whole gootee. In few months you
will obtain a fine, well-rooted plant.
AS the fibers are emitted from the