Prior to the winter of 1894-5 lemons were grown commercially in Central Florida. Since that period the plantings have been quite extensive in lower Florida. In California since the advent of the Mediterranean varieties with acceptable size, thinness of skin, freedom from bitterness, and the systems of curing have been perfected, the advance in lemon-growing has been remarkably rapid. See Sections 196 and 197 of Part I.

Leading Varieties Of The Lemon

Belair

Size of Eureka, oblong oval; color light yellow; quality best for curing. A favorite variety in South Florida and Arizona.

Bonnie Brae

Medium-sized, oval; rind very thin, smooth; pulp pleasantly acid. A California seedling grown in Southern San Diego County, but as yet local.

Eureka

Medium; rind sweet; seeds very few; one of the three best for commercial use, but only grown near the coast in California. The foliage is too thin for hot interior valleys. Does well in South Florida.

Genoa

Medium, oval; rind sweet; nearly seedless; one of the three leading varieties of South California and South Arizona.

Imperial Messina

A variety grown in South Florida that has all the requisites of a commercial modern lemon. As yet local.

Lisbon

Size very uniform, rather oblong; rind thin and sweet. Flesh fine-grained, strongly acid, with few seeds; one of the best keepers. Tree a strong grower and great bearer. Popular at interior points in California and in the nearly frostless parts of Arizona.

Sicily

This seems an uncertain name for a class almost identical in quality of fruit for curing. The variety popular in South Florida is oval, light yellow, and like Belair in size, quality, and thinness of rind. This is also grown in South Arizona and California.

Villafranca

Medium, quite uniform, oblong, slightly pointed at apex; rind thin without bitterness, very acid; nearly seedless. A leading commercial variety in South California, Arizona, and South Florida.