The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1890-12-03
Orange Culture in Foreign Countries.
DIGEST OF CONSULAR REPORTS ON FRUIT
CULTURE IN FOREIGN COUNTRIES.
NUMBER III.
LEMON CULTURE IN vENETIA.

AiCIOuSu ZIG pIlHClpdl NiouU0I VI GAOOlC
culture is not found within the consular
district of Venice, some account OF the
circumstances and methods connected
withits practice in the provinceo of Verona
may be of interest to fruit growers in an
swer to the inquiries of the Department.
The Lake Of Garda, the largest of the
Italian lakes, while penetrating with it's
northern extremity far into the mass of
the Great Alps, opens out into the plain
to the south with barely the difference of
level necessary to contain it's waters, and
the more completely it allows the warm
air OF the plain to penetrate into it's
deeply embedded mountain recesses the
more completely is the tepid element
sheltered and isolated from the colder
currents Of the, north. Bathed in this
genial atmosphere, the preciptious shores
form range of natural espaliers, ex-
posed to the southern sun in all it's course
and enjoying climate of their own, on
which the cultivation of oranges and
lemons has been profitable industry for
several centuries. 1t is on the western
shores OF thelake, in theregion ofBrescia,
that both fruits are produced with sue
cess; while to the east and properly
within the Venetian territory, the lemon
| only, being the more hardy, is cultivated
to any extent for commerce, the orange
being more rarely plan ed, except for ex-
pertinent or ornament; it's fruit does not
generally come to maturity.
CULTIvATIoN.-The lemon is cultivated
in the open air and succeeds perfectly,
though requiring the incest care and at
tention. 1t demands soil sufficiently
loose and fresh to permit the free pas
sage of solar heat without baking or
shrinking, and largely composed OF the
substances most suitable for the fnrma-
ton of acids, of sweet and aromatic
juices, such as the alkalies, and particu-
larly those of potassa and lime.
ANALYsI.-An analysis of the trunk
and fruit of the lemon shows in the fruit
thepresence OF At. 46p per cent. ofpotassa,
22.82 per cent. of lime, and 11.57 per
cent. of phosphoric acid; in the trunk,
55.13 per cent. of lime, II. 90 per cent. OF
phosphoric acid, and 14.76 per cent. of
potassa, with smaller proportions of
other substances.
MANUREs.-The manure should be of a
nature to complete the natural resources
of the soil, by still further additions of
alkaline and azotated substances; stable
manure, mixed with leaves and sea-weed,
and left to decay together till they form
a loan, to which may be added powdered
lime or plaster Of Paris and night soil;
some cultivators use also the refuse of the
wine and oil press.
PRoPAGATING.-For propagating the
plants, nursery is generally formed in
some spot particularly favorable for soil
and exposure, and here the plantation
may be made in various ways-with the
seed simply, with a portion OF root which
has already given a sprout. with slips
buried till they commenced taking root.
From the seed sown in spr;ng the plants
are most robust, but such plants always
require to be. grated later, which is done
| sometimes in the simplesplit, but oftener
by the insertion of bud on some thrifty
shoot from one of the lower branches.