The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1907-02-14
development nF FRUIT
Successful Experiments of the
Agricultural Department.
TWO NEW VARIETIES OF LINES

Small and Large Specimens Which
Arc Regarded as Commercial Sue
cesses-How the Morton Citrange
Was Developed-May BE Less FIX
pcnsive to Grow Than Oranges.
Improved Pineapp1es.
New treats are in store for persons
who enjoy 4 variety OF fruits in the
summer and early fall OF who find
comfort on hot summer days in sip
ping cooling drinks. Never content
with results that may be so far in ad-
vance of past achievements as to seem
like new milestones in the progress
of their investigations, the plant and
fruit experts of the department of ag-
riculture are continuing increasingly
their search for novelties, says the
New York Posts Washington CORE
spondent They note even the least in
dication Of new traits which impress
them as possessing possibilities Of de-
velopment and see whether results
cannot be gained in the permanent bet
ter1nent of the fruit species to which
that particular product belongs.
One Of the most popular and deli
cious thirst quenching decoctions at
this season of the year is limeade. Up
to within seven or eight years ago, al
though the lime as fruit was grown
in all tropical and subtropical coun-
tries for home consumption, it was
only at very few places that it was
cultivated extensively for the manu-
facture of an article known as "lime
juice" No commercial culture existed,
however, in any part of the United
States, and this was an evident indi-
cation that there was no demand
which made fruit growers suppose 1T
would be worth their while to grow
lines. When the use of lines at soda
fountains was introduced the demand
increased so rapidly that the fruit at
taincd standing as commercial prod
uct and developed trade possibilities
which were promptly recognized by
plantation owners in southern Florida.
AS the general demand for the lime
is Of such recent origin, very few va
rieties have been specifically named
or become permanently introduced in
the principal markets. Some-sections.
of the United States have shown a de-
cided preference for the small speci-
mems, while in other cases large lines
are more in demand. Some are very
seedy, others nearly seedless. Some
ripen early, while others do not reach
their prime until late in the season.
The unknown qualities Of the lime are
so great when compared with similar
varieties Of fruit which have been un-
der observation and cultivation for
decades past that there has been un-
usual difficulty in differentiating close
ly between the few varieties now prac-
tically established and the others which
are still largely in an experimental
stage.
After much experimentation the de-
partment experts have given names to
two specimens which have progressed
under their care to point where they
are looked upon rs commercial sue
cesses. The smaller of the two is a
hybrid Of the West Indian lime with
pollen Of the Sicily lemon and has
been named the Palmetto" The origi-
nal Seeding was grown, fruited and
tested in the subtropical garden Of the
department at Miami, Fla. The origi-
nal experimental tree produced only
three seedlings. One Of these was
small and ultimately died, but both of
the others, which are almost exact du-
plicates of each other, have borne fruit
which has had one Of the chief marks
of success-uniformity Of size. Each
lime weighs a trifie over one ounce,
is nearly round, with a smooth sur
face and rind less than one-siX-
teenth Of an inch in thickness. The
pulp, of light greenish color, Is tender
and very juicy, with a flavor which
the experts describe as "a sprightly
acid Of excellent bouquet" It is al
most seedless, having usually only
from three to six seeds. \ feature rec
ommending it to fruit growers is that
it natures early and that because OF
the spreading, Dushy nature OF the
vigorous hybridized tree it bears the
greater part of the fruit near the ends
of the branches, where it may be pick
ed with the minimum of trouble and
injury.
This small, regular and very juicy
type exactly fits the requirements OF
the trade in some sections Of the coun-
try and is destined to command
good price and wide market for the
growers. For other sections, however,
where for some reason or other the
larger specimen Of lines is preferred,
the experts have provided cross be-
tween the West Indian lime and the