Los Angeles herald., 1892-04-03
THE LEMON.
A Treatise on 1t by an
Expert.
California Lemons Equal to the
Best Foreign Fruit.
Varieties of the Fruit Desirable in
Orchards.
A Large Acreage Being Planted to
This Valuable Fruit-some
Interesting Points for
Orchardists.

Mr.. ]. P. Jones, of San Diego, has
published the following article:
No fruit grown in California is attract
ing so much attention as the lemon, and
this is particularly true in the southern
part of the state. Large areas are be-
ing planted, stimulated largely by DR..
Garcelon Of Riverside, Mr.. Hatch of
Ontario and others, in curing this fruit
90 that it can maintain its stand
ing in the markets of the world
when offered in competition with
the imported article; and they demon
strated the fact that California-grown
lemons can be cured go that they will
keep in perfect condition for six
months at least. This gives our grow
ers the choice of market, and is an
important factor in inducing men Of
various professions to engage in their
culture.
When person has determined that
he will plant lemon grove, the first
thing that will present itself to his
mind, after securing the land, will be
what variety shall he plant, and on
what stock shall they be budded, and
much OF his after success will depend on
the answer TO this question. There is
not variety of lemon which is not the
favorite of some one.
Many will tell you to plant the Eu-
reka, while it is we'll known that it ls a
tree of struggling growth and scant foli-
age. Such tree does not give proper
protection from frost in winter or sun.
burn in summer. There are other OBJ
jections. The fruit has very bitter
rind and is often coarse and overgrown.
Its best quality is its early and prolific
bearing.
What is known as the Sicily lemon is
grown from seed from fruit imported
from Sicily. Hence the name, and as
many varieties are grown under the
same general name, they will not do to
tie to. A safe procedure would be to
take buds from tree, no matter what
the name. if in fruit, curing and growth,
it meets your idea.
The Villa Franco. the favorite Florida
variety, is tree of much promise, it
being medium as to growth, foliage
and early fruiting, between the Eureka
and the Lisbon. 1t is new variety,
having fruited but two years in Southern
California. The rind of the lemon,
though sweet, is rather coarse and thick,
but this is a characteristic of the lemon
Oh Ill young tTcce, 6uu Will prOUdDly Uo
cured as the trees attain age.
The Lisbon lemon tree was imported
from Portugal and has been thoroughly
tested and seems to meet the require
ments better than any other. The
tree is a vigorous grower and attains a
large size; does not fruit much until
the third year. Its habit is to put on
wood rapidly. Trees are often found
81 f<,ot -, ho;ohk
prsportioned at that age, giving abund-
ant limb surface for the immense crops
that are to follow. The only objection
urged against this tree is that it is very
thorny, and it lie claimed by persons
we'll qualified to Judge that about 25 per
cent Of the fruit is made unstable by
thorning.
The fruit is oblong rather than round
ish, very uniform in size. rind thin and
sweet, cures perfectly and is the best
off. This will require labor, but, believe
me, it will be time we'll spent.
The Bonnie Brae is the most beautiful
lemon grown. Its rind is smooth as a
kid glove and so very thin that many
think it cannot be shipped to distant
markets. am not prepared to accept
their judgment as final.
| I feel very much as did an importer OF
citrus fruits whom l met at the
southern state district fair, and that is,
that the appearance of the fruit will
sell it in any market in the world, and
that would take them to that market
even though I were obliged to ship in
egg boxes, or those made on similar
plan.
Belaire Premium lemon originated in
Florida, and in form is the most per.
feet Of any known. l have one tree
sent me by a friend, which has
fruited little for two years. The tree
is perfectly thornless, but not very
vigorous grower; rind rather coarse and
thick, but sweet; acid very strong and
of excellent flavor. A lemonade made
from it will retain it's quality for twenty
four hours, if kept cool.
think it preferable to bud the lemon
on some kind of sour stock, and would
state as reason, that most sweet stock
is subject to foot rot or mala de gonna to
some extent.
| As to cultivation, it cannot be toe
thorough. A medium amount of water
and thorough stirring of the soil after
each application is the correct thing
and trees so treated will be far ahead ol
those where the water is allowed to run
along the rows for several days, chilling
and souring the ground and often caus'
ing foot rot and cumming.
New Washington, Pa, People
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