Two important new types of citrous hybrids for the home garden -- citrangequats and limequats

              TWO IMPORTANT NEW TYPES OF CITROUS HYBRIDS
FOR THE HOME GARDEN- CITRANGEQUATS AND
LIMEQUATSI
By WALTER T. SWINGI. E, Physiologist in Charge, and T. RAI. PH ROBINSON, Crop
Physiologist, Office of Crop Physiology and Breeding Investigations, Bureau of Plant
Industry, United States Department of Agriculture
The breeding of cold- resistant citrous fruits suitable for culture in
the southern part of the cotton belt has been in progress for many years.
The citrange, a cross of the hardy Chinese trifoliate orange, Poncirus
trifoliata ( L.) Raf. and the common sweet orange, Citnts sinensis, Osb.
was the first of the hardy hybrids secured. The citrange was first
reported on by the senior author and Dr. H. J. Webber2 in the Yearbook
of the Department of Agriculture for 1904, where the Rusk and Willits
citranges, two that appear below as parents of new hybrids, were de­scribed
and illustrated. It soon became evident that although the cit­range
is much like the trifoliate orange in its resistance to extreme cold
when it is in a dormant condition, it is easily forced. into a new growth
in spring and sometimes is severely injured by untimely cold snaps.
In consequence of this imperfect resistance of the citrange to spring
and early autumn frosts, about 15 years ago the effort was first made to
create new types of hybrids which would partake in some measure of
another type of hardiness possessed very strikingly by the kumquat
oranges. The kumquat is one of the hardiest of the evergreen citrous
fruit trees; besides having a fair degree of resistance to cold it has an
extremely high degree of winter dormancy. Both of the species of
kumquat commonly grown in this country, the round and the oval kum­quats,
are able to pass unaffected through speIls of hot weather which
force other citrous into a tender and succulent growth that is liable to be
injured by a slight frost.
The first successful hybrids wherein the kumquat was used with the
idea of securing increased dormancy were made by the senior author in
the spring of 1909. Four principal types of these kumquat hybrids
were made: First, those between the trifoliate orange and the kumquat.
These proved extraordinarily hard to make, and most of them were very
weak, many of them dying while still smaIl seedlings. None of these
have proved as yet to be of any considerable value. Second, hybrids
were made in considerable number between the more promising citranges,
especiaIly the Rusk and Willits, already widely cultivated in the cotton
belt, and the kumquats. The hybrids resulting from these crosses are
known as citrangequats, and are described in the present paper. Third,
the effort was made to hybridize the kumquat with the West India lime,
1 Accepted for publication Oct. 28, 1921.
'\ VEBBIlR. Herbert J .• and SWINGLIl, Walter T. NEw CITRUS CRIlATIONS OF THIl DEPARTMENT OF
AGRICULTURE. In U. S. Dept. Agr. Yearbook. 1904, p. 227- 235, fig. 13, pI. 11- 14, 16. 1905.
Journal of Agricultural Research,
Washington, D. C.
ad
2431(}- 23
Vol. XXIII, No. "
Jan. 27. 1923
Key No. G- 270
229
23 2 Journal Of Agricultural Research Vol. x..' CIII, NO. 4
survive even lower temperatures. The evergreen nature of the tree
also recommends it for home gardens or lawn planting. Judicious
pruning or pinching back of long shoots will assist in giving the tree a
fairly compact habit in place of its natural upright form.
The Thomasville citrangequat makes an excellent marmalade without
the admixture of any other citrous fruits. The mildly pungent peel and
the pleasantly flavored acid juice combine to give the marmalade an
unusually good flavor, rivaling the best Dundee marmalade.
RESISTANCE TO DISEASE
The advent of Citrus- canker in the Gulf Coast States made it necessary
to test any new Citrus varieties and hybrids with reference to their sus­ceptibility
to that disease before they could be recommended for culture.
As is well known, the kumquat is the most canker- resistant of all
citrous fruits, its resistance amounting to practical immunity under
field conditions. In this new hybrid, the Thomasville citrangequat, the
kumquat parent has seemingly transmitted its remarkable canker resis­tance
unimpaired, notwithstanding the fact that one parent of the
citrangequat, the citrange, is decidedly susceptible to canker.
Several plants of the Thomasville citrangequat have been inoculated
and continuously exposed to Citrus- canker for a period of four years
without any canker having been developed except from needle punctures,
from which canker failed to spread. 5
It is highly important that only canker- resistant citrous fruits be propa­gated
in the Gulf Coast States west of Florida, as a measure of insurance
against a serious reinfection. From this viewpoint, the citrangequat
becomes of great importance to this region, to meet the need for home­grown
acid citrous fruits.
While somewhat affected by Citrus scab, the quality of the fruit is not
greatly impaired thereby, and if planted away from scab- susceptible
varieties it is probable that scab would not be at all serious on the citrange­quat.
POSSIBLE USE OF CITRANGEQUATS AS ASTOCK FOR SATSUMA ORANGES
The extraordinary vigor of growth, great hardiness, and extreme
canker resistance shown by this hybrid suggested at once its possible
value as a stock, especially for use in the Gulf Coast States west of Florida.
In this region almost the only stock used for Satsuma and other Citrus
varieties is t.. h. e trifoliate orange, a very hardy, deciduous tree, closely
related to the true species of Citrus. It is extremely thorny and is used
extensively as a hedge plant, the fruits from these hedges providing an
abundance of seeds to use in growing nursery stock. Unfortunately, the
trifoliate orange is very susceptible to Citrus- canker. One necessary step
in the eradication of canker is the complete elimination of these trifoliate
orange hedges. The presence of large numbers of trifoliate seedlings in
Citrus nurseries is also a menace in the event of a reappearance of Citrus­canker.
When considering the possible use of the citrangequat as a stock, the
small number of seeds produced seemed an almost unsurmountable
~ PSL'I'I£ R. George L. SUSCEpTIBILITY AND RESISTANCE TO CITRUS- CANKER OF THE WILD RELATIVES,
CITRUS FRIDTS. AND HYBRlDS OF THE GENUS ClTRUS. In Jour. Age Research, v. 14. no. 9. p. 350. 1918.
Jan. 27, 1923 Citrangequats and Limequats 233 I
barrier, despite its promising features of canker- resistance and extreme
vigor. 6 The recent discovery, however, that cuttings of the citrangequat
may be rooted readily by the use of new methods, has been so encouraging
that extended trials of this plant as a stock are now under way. By the
use of rooted cuttings, practically a full year's time may be saved in
growing stocks to budding size, an advantage certainly sufficient to
offset any additional trouble and expense for greenhouse equipment.
A combination of bottom heat, about 90° F, with humidity maintained
at a high point, 80° to 90°, and with air temperature lower than that of
the soil, 70° to 80°, is essential to the best results. 7 With good control
of all these factors, small twig cuttings with leaves attached may be rooted
within a few weeks- in less time, in fact, than it usually takes for seed
to germinate. .
Plate 3 shows two of these cuttings and the original seedling plants be­side
them, with the stubs visible where the cuttings were removed.
These cuttings were photographed only 4U months from the time they
were placed" in the rooting bed and are fine specimens of a large lot rooted
in February, 1921. The seedlings were 18 months old. An interesting
point in this connection is the fact that while the citrangequat roots so
freely the three parent species utilized in creating the hybrid ( the sweet
orange, trifoliate orange, and kumquat) commonly fail to root under the
same conditions.
By the use of rooted cuttings, certain advantages are secured well
worth consideration. First, the time saved has already been mentioned;
second, through vegetative propagation uniformity of vigor is secured
which is highly desirable and cannot ordinarily be expected through
the use of seedlings; and, third, it has often been noted in the propagation
of cross- bred plants that there is a vigor of growth in the first generation
seedlings not so apparent in succeeding generations of self- pollinated
plants. This vigor can be utilized to best advantage by the rooting of
cuttings from especially vigorous individuals.
Buds of Satsuma and other citrous fruits grow readily on citrangequat
stocks, but tests under field conditions will be necessary before definite
conclusions can be drawn. While such tests have been under way now
for several years, more time will be necessary in order to secure trust­worthy
conclusions as to the effect of the stock on the quality, size,
and season of fruit crops, as well as hardiness and other factors of practical
importance.
Regardless of the possible utilization of the Thomasville citrangequat
as a stock, its obvious value as a hardy, canker- resistant fruit tree for
home use makes it desirable to give it a distinctive name and publish
a detailed description.
• The character of this hybrid as regards seed content seems to be dependent largely on the possibility of
its receiving pollen from other seedy varieties of Citrus. In many places where grown by itself or along
with seedless varieties ( such as Satsuma, having little or no viable pollen) the fruit is practically seedless.
while in other plantings where mixed with seedy varieties, seeds are usually found averaging six or eight
to the fruit.
The Thomasville citrangequat. like many other hybrids between widely differing species of the Citrus
group, reproduces itself unchanged from seed. This means that it is in reality a,. sterile hybrid and the
embryo found in the seed is developed from the tissues of the mother plant and of c!! furse shows no effect 0 f
the pollen used in fertilizing the flower.
7 The method used was developed in January and February, 1921, by Mr. Eugene May, jr.. plant propa ·
gator of the Office of Crop Physiology and Breeding Investigations, and is an adaptation of the rooting
methods devised by Mr. Edward Goucher, of the Office of Foreign Seed and Plant Introduction, Bureau
of Plant Industry, United States Department of Agriculture, for the rooting of small twig cuttings of the
Lychee. ( GOUCHER. Edward. ROO1' 1NG LYCHEE CUTTINGS BY MEANS OF A HIGH TEMPERA'rURE AND JUGH
HUMIDITY PROCESS. In GROFF, George Weidman. THE LYCHEE AND LUNGAN, Appendix 8, p. I57- I59,
New York, London, and Canton, China, 1921).
234 Journal of A gricultural Research Vol. XXIII, NO. 4
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE THOMASVILLE CITRANGEQUAT
Fruit oval or nearly spherical, mature fruits having a long diameter of I%, to 2 inches,
diameter in cross section IY. to IYs inches, calyx strongly persistent with usually S
long, clawlike points; fruit spur long, swollen, and characteristically bent downward
apparently by the weight of the fruit, color of mature fruit yellow to orange yellow, S
rind thin ( 78 inch) somewhat roughened or " pebbly," oil cells small, depressed, seg­ments,
usually 7 or 8, thin- walled; core, little or none; seeds varying from none to
12, usually not more than 6, small and plump; pulp light greenish to amber color,
juicy, pleasantly acid when immature, becoming sweetish when fully mature; tree
evergreen, vigorous, of upright habit; thorns rather numerous on old wood but much
reduced and inconspicuous on bearing twigs; leaves uni-, bi-, and trifoliate ( on
young plants chiefly trifoliate, on bearing wood chiefly unifoliate) long pointed oval
or lanceolate, 2 to 3 inches in length, rather thick and stiff, slightly folded on the
midrib, dark green, with finely incised margins; petioles, very narrow- winged; flowers
small, pure white, s- petaled, bloom appearing rather late though not as late as the
kumquat, fruits ripening from October to December, but juicy and serviceable as
ade fruits from July to October.
OTHER CITRANGEQUATS
During the spring and early summer of 19° 9, the senior author made
many cross pollinations between citranges and kumquats. From these
numerous crosses, 67 citrangequats were secured. These citrangequats
are mostly hybrids of the oval kumquat with the citrange, the latter
being the pollen parent. Five different citranges were used as pollen
parents, but most of the citrangequats ( 49 in all) have Rusk citrange
as the mother parent; the next largest group ( II in all) are hybrids
between the Willits citrange and the oval kumquat. Three of the
citrangequats are hybrids of the round kumquat pollinated by the Rusk
citrange.
Not all of the citrangequats have been as yet carefully studied, but a
number of them are of interest and several of the most promising are
noted below.
A second citrangequat ( C. P. B. No. 4801 I) was grown from the same
crossed fruit that yielded the Thomasville. It differs from that variety
in having large fruits more nearly spherical in shape and borne on upright
fruit stalks instead of on curiously elongated " goose- neck" fruit stalks.
This citrangequat, like the Thomasville, loses much of its acidity as the
fruit matures and like it has a mild- flavored peel and usually few seeds.
When fully ripe this citrangequat is sweeter than the Thomasville and
can be eaten from the hand by those who like rather sour citrous fruits.
Another citrangequat resulting from the same cross of oval kumquat
and Willits citrange is C. P. B. No. 48005. The pollen parent was the
same as that of the Thomasville but the seed parent was a different
tree growing in the same dooryard at Eustis, Fla. This citrangequat
has attracted attention by fruiting freely in the garden of Mr. George
H. Harris, a cooperator living at McRae, Telfair County, Ga., far to
the north of the limit of ordinary citrous fruit culture.
It differs decidedly from the Thomasville in remaining intensely acid
even when fully mature. The fruits are nearly spherical and are borne
on erect fruit stalks. As this citrangequat has fruited successfully as
far north as the latitude of Savannah, 32°, it seems advisable to give it a
8 RIDGWAY, Robert. COLOR STAND.\ RD3 AND COLOR NOMENCLATURE, pl. ITI, 15. " 9ashington. D. C.,
1912.
'"'
an. 27. 1923 Citrangequats and Limequats 235
..
name, and it is accordingly proposed to cal1 it the Telfair citrangequat ~
( PI. 2, C). 9
Another citrangequat of the same parentage is C. P. B. No. 48007,
which was conspicuous for its extreme vigor when young. ( PI. 1.) The
fruit, like that of the Thomasvil1e, acquires something of an orange flavor
as it ripens. It seems to be an early ripening variety. The peel is mild
flavored, and the seeds are few.
Stil1 another citrangequat is C. P. B. No. 48050, a hybrid of the oval
kumquat with the Rusk citrange. It attracted the attention of Mr. J.
W. Benson, a cooperator living at Sinton, San Patricio County, Tex.,
near Corpus Christi, by its superior cold resistance and nearly seedless
fruits. A tree that flowered in October, 1918, carried a crop through
the winter unharmed. Samples received at Washington on April 23,
1919, were very like a lime in appearance and flavor, but showed a smal1,
fleshy calyx, somewhat like that of the Rusk citrange parent. Fruits
of this number, received November I, 1920, from Glen St. Mary, Fla.,
were strikingly handsome, being bright orange or even flame scarlet in
color. They were from I~ to lYE inches in diameter, nearly spherical,
and had few or no seeds. These fruits were overripe, but the pulp was
still acid, so this is doubtless an early maturing variety suitable only
for ade.
As this citrangequat has attracted attention, not only because of its
nearly seedless lime- like fruits produced in Texas, but also because of
the extraordinarily brilliant color of the fully ripe fruits in Florida, it
seems best to give it a name. It is accordingly called the Sinton X
citrangequat. 1o -
EUSTIS LIMEQUAT
In 1909, the senior author originated a new type of citrous fruits by
crossing theWest Indian lime with the kumquat oranges. Those familiar
with citrous fruits know that the lime is the tenderest of all the commonly
grown species of this group. It frequently freezes to the ground even
in southern Florida, so that its culture is chiefly confined to the fringe
of keys along the coast. The kumquat, on the other hand, is one of the
hardiest of the evergreen citrous fruit trees. This is without doubt not
so much due to its direct powers of cold resistance as to its remarkable
dormancy. The kumquat, as noted above, is able to pass unaffected
through long spells of hot weather that force other Citrus trees into a
tender and succulent growth that is liable to be injured by even a light
9 ' l'ECHNICAL DJ! SCRIPTION OF THE TELFAIR CITRANGEQUAT: Fruit spherical ( sometimes slightly flattened
or elongated) mature fruits having a diameter of IX inches to 131 inches; calyx persistent with slang points;
color of mature fruit light orange ycllow to deep chrome ( RIDGWAV, Robert, OP. CIT., pI. III, ' 7, b, d); rind
thin, so'mewhat roughened; oil cells prominent, small, numerous; core little or none; segnlents 4 to 6 ( usually
5), seetls few, variable in size, usually undeveloped, pulp pale yellow; Pinard yellow, ( RIDGWAV, Robert,
OP. CIT., pI. IV, 21, d.), sharply acid, and retaining this quality when mature; rind slightly bitter; tree ever­green,
vigorous, of upright habit; leaves uni-, bj., and trifoliate, generally obovate, 1% to 2% inches in length,
finely serrated; plant fairly thorny, thorns smaller in size on the fruiting twigs; bloom often occurring over
a long period, giving a semievcrbearing fruiting habit.
10 T1! CHNICAL DESCRlP! ION OF TIut SINTON CITRANGEQUAT: Fruits varying from slightly flattened tosligbtly
elongated; growing in clusters; diameter varying from 1% inches to IyS inches; calyx small, Pf" fslstent,
slightly protruding, slmken pistil surrounded by a very small raised circle; color variable, ranging from a
light orange- yellow ( RIDGWAV, Robert, OP. CIT., pI. III, ' 7, d), to a light flame scarlet ( RIDGWAV, Robert, OP.
CIT., pI. II, 9); rind very thin, smooth, highly colored, 1'< inch in thickness and much like kumquat, show­ing
almost none of the flavor of the trifoliate orange; oil cells few, variable in number; segments 7 to 8; no
seed in 100 of fruits, occasionally one or a few; pulp pale, varying from orange- buff ( RIDGWAY, Robert, OP.
CIT., pI. III, ' s, d), to alight cadmium ( RIDGWAV, Robert, OP. CIT., pI. IV, 19); flavor sharply acid, decidedly
lime- like with only faint suggestion of citrange flavor given by the oil from the rind, no citrange flavor in
the juice; makes a goo: i ade; core very small and segment walls very thin; tree much more hardy than the
lime; bearing twigs spineless; leaves on bearing branches unifoliate, rather thin, 2 to 3 inches in length by
1~ inches in width; petiole Y. inch long, slightly winged; midrib heavy, prominent..,. upper surface; leaves
tapering slil/ htly toward the apex.
Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. XXIII, No. ~
frost. Some measure of the dormancy of the kumquats is indicated by
the fact that they flower from two to three months later than other
citrous trees.
This series of crosses between the lime and the kumquats was made at
Eustis, Fla., in June, 1909, in the Citrus grove of Mr. F. W. Savage. These
crosses resulted in a number of hybrids varying in character, but all
having fruits much like the lime in quality. Attention has been attracted
to one of these hybrids ( C. P. B. No. 48798) that fruited during the
summer of 1918 in the greenhouse of the Department of Agriculture
at ' Washington, D. C. It resulted from fertilizing the flowers of the
common or West Indian lime with pollen of the round kumquat.
The Eustis limequat fruit is of striking appearance, strongly resem­bling
a West India lime in color, size, and texture. ( PI. 4.) The color is
a light yellow, resembling the color of grapefruit. When cut, the fruit
shows its lime- like character. It is very juicy, thin- skinned, has few
seeds, and the flavor can hardly be distinguished even by an expert from
the true lime. Moreover, the rind is edible, like that of the kumquat,
so that the whole fruit may be utilized. It is particularly promising
as a fruit for crystallizing. The spines on the bearing wood are
very inconspicuous, a decided point in favor of this hybrid in contrast
with the viciously spiny character of the common lime. Some of the
other limequats exhibit rather long spines, even on the small twigs.
Observations coveringseveral seasons indicate that this limequat possesses
much of the immunity to disease and insect pests enjoyed by the kum­quat.
The kumquat is the most resistant to Citrus- canker of all citrous
varieties, a resistance amounting to practical immunity, an advantage
the limequat has in some degree.
Specimens submitted to Citrus experts and growers have in every case
elicited favorable opinions, it being held that the limequat's place in
citrous fruit culture is not dependent entirely upon unusual hardiness.
Even should it prove no more hardy than the sweet orange, it would still
be of great value throughout the orange- growing regions, as the lime is
so extremely tender that its culture is now almost entirely confined to
the protected keys along the Florida coast. This hybrid, as well as
several sister hybrids of this limequat, have been fruited at Glen St.
Mary, Fla., in the northern tier of Florida counties, but were killed in
the successive freezes of 1917 and 1918. \ Vith a little protection while
young, and during unusually severe weather, it is probable that this
hardy form of lime could be grown in the warmer parts of the Gulf Coast,
supplying a real need in this region.
In Florida, California lemons are not obtainable owing to the quaran­tine
restrictions necessary to prevent the introduction of " brown rot."
Sicilian lemons are often expensive and are only obtainable in the larger
to'wns, so that it often happens that a good acid citrous fruit for ade
making is a decided scarcity even in Citrus- growing territory.
Budding experiments on different stocks are in progress and the
present indications are that the limequat will thrive on most of
the stocks commonly used except sour orange. Unlike the Thomasville
citrangequat the Eustis limequat does not come true from seed. Nursery
propagation is chiefly confined to the rough lemon and trifoliate orange
stocks. Like the lime, if planted low and mounded with soil the limequat
bud will strike root, thus simplifying the stock question. Its fruiting sea­SOl1
is also of importance. To be of the greatest service in the home fruit
garden it should bear the bulk of its crop in the warm summer months.
Jan, 27, 1923 Citrangequats and Limequats 237
The indications are from " the few trees that are in bearing in Florida
that it will prove more or less everbearing, following the lime parent in
this regard. No doubt its fruiting season can be influenced by methods
of fertilization and pruning. Selection of budwood from early or
summer- bearing trees will also be desirable.
The limequat promises to become a valuable addition to our list of
citrous fruits. Since the original cross pollination resulting in this new
fruit was made at Eustis, Fla., a well- known Citrus- producing center,
it is proposed to name this hybrid the " Eustis limequat."
TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF EUSTIS LIMEQUAT
Fmit oval ( occasionally nearly spherical) slightly asymmetrical, mature fruits
having a long diameter averaging Irs to I] i inches, diameter in cross section, 178 to
IV, inches; calyx persistent; color light yellow (" picric yellow")"; rind thin, -. h
inch, very smooth and glossy, translucent; oil cells spherical, rather prominent,
having no bitter flavor; segments 6 to 9; seeds 5 to 12, usually averaging I to the segment,
small to medium size, .7: i to } i inch in length; pulp of light greenish color, closely
resembling lime, tender and juicy, flavor sharply acid ( like the lime the fmit can be
used when full sized but not fully colored); tree evergreen, vigorous, having a tendency
to produce long shoots which bend downward with the weight of the fruit; resembles
the lime in producing a succession of crops, though not so markedly everbearing;
spines on bearin~ twigs very small, not injuring the fruit; flowers s- petaled, pure white
( not streaked WIth pink as those of the lime and of most other limequats); leaves
unifoliate, rather thick, dark green above, lighter below, tapering at both base and
apex, 2 to 3 inches long, slightly folded along the midrib, having short, narrow petioles,
closely resembling leaves of the round kumquat except for larger size.
OTHER LIMEQUATS
In addition to the Eustis limequat, some 28 other hybrids were made
by the senior author in 1909 between the West India lime and the
kumquat.- Twenty- four of these, like the Eustis, are hybrids of the
West India lime and the round kumquat; f0ur are hybrids of the West
India lime and the oval kumquat. Only about one- third of these have
been studied in detail, but several of them are being grown in Florida
and other Southern States. Perhaps the most promising of these is a
limequat ( C. P. B. 48786) of the same parentage as the Eustis; that is
another cross between the same two parent trees. This is the largest
limequat yet produced, sometimes equaling a smallle'mon in size, usually
being about IU inches in diameter and 2;{ inches long. The fruits,
bright yellow when ripe, have a very pale pulp of a pleasant acid flavor,
similar to the Mexican lime, the' skin is very thin but tough and of a
mild flavor. There are from two to nine seeds in a fruit.
This limequat has done particularly well in the garden of Hon. H. J.
Drane at Lakeland, Fla., and as it is likely to be propagated more or
less it seems desirable to give it a name. It is accordingly called the
Lakeland limequat ( PI. S, A).' 2
Another limequat that has attracted much favorable notice is C. P. B.
No. 48792. This is a hybrid of the Mexican lime with the oval kumquat,
11 RIDGWAY, Robert, GP. CIT., pI. IV, d 23.
111 TeCHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF LAKELAND LIM£ QUA1': Fruits very smooth, attractive in appearance,
oval, average 2y' inches long Itt inches in diameter; Calyx not persistent; color Strojfian yellow ( RWGWAY;
Robert, GP. CIT., pI. XVI, 23); rind very thin, smooth, sweet and edible like that of kumquat; oil cells
large and prominent. transparent, showing through the rind, seiments 5 to 8, seeds 2 to 9, large and oval,
usually about 6; pulp pale, massicot yellow ( RIDGWAY, Robert, GP. CIT" pI. XVI, f, 21). resembling
lime; very juicy, sh~ rply acid, that of linIe; good before fruit is fully colored; leaves 2)/ 0 to 3 inches in length;
evergreen, unifoIiate. lanceolate acuminate, petiole short, very narrowiy winged; tree vigorous, bearing
wood nearly spineless.
Journal of Agricultural Research Vol. XXIII, No. ¢
whereas the Eustis limequat and the Lakeland limequat are hybrids of
the Mexican lime with the round kumquat, As this limequat has already
been propagated to some extent in Florida and is certain to become more
or less widespread as a dooryard fruit, it seems best to give it a name.
It is accordingly called the Tavares limequat, 13 ' Tavares being the town
adjoining Eustis, between which two cities lies Mr. Frank W. Savage's
orange grove, where this and all the other limequats were produced.
The fruits are very similar to those of the Eustis limequat in appear­ance,
and have much the same flavor. ( PI. 5, B.) It is often difficult to
distinguish the fruits of these two varieties, the Tavares and the Eustis.
On the whole the Eustis seems to be rather better in quality than the
Tavares. The two can easily be distinguished by the fact that the
flower buds of the Eustis are pure white while those of the Tavares.
have a pinkish coloration, like those of the West Indian lime.
13 TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION OF TAVARES LlME: QUAT: Fruits obovate or oval, occasionally nearly
spherical; . r.( to Iof. inches long, I~ to Ii. inches in diameter; light cadmium yellow ( RIDGWAY, Robert,
OP. CIT., PI. IV, 19'); rind, very thin, smooth, tender, edible, averaging - h inch in thickness, mild flavored,
stronger and tougher than that of kumquat and other Iimequats; segments 7 to 8; segment walls thin;
seeds large, 6 to II, usually 8 or 9, oval, often pointed at one end; fulpmustard yellow ( RJDGWAY, Robert,
OP. CIT.. PI. XVI, b 19'), resembling lime; juicy, sharPly acid; leaves evergreen unifoliate, lanceolate;
petioles very narrowly winged; \ tree vigorous with short spines on bearing wood; flower buds pink.
"
PLATE 1
Fou( citrangequats and one oval kumquat, nearly 1 year old;~ nurse- grafted whenh
months old, on pummelo stock. From left to nght C. P. B. No. 48005 ( Telfair);
No. 48007; No. 48010 ( Thomasville); No. 48036; No. 48049!( ovallkumquat). About
- h~ natural size.
Citrangequats and Limequats PLATE I
Journal of Agricultural Research Washington, D. C.
Citrangequats and Limequats PLATE 2
Journal of Agricultural Research
c
Washington, D. C.
PLATE 2
A.- Thomasville citrangequat ( No. 48010). Natural size.
B.- eross section of Thomasville citrangequat sent in by Mr. A. M. Troyer to the
Bureau of Plant. Industry, from Fairhope, Ala., February I, 1922 •
C.- Telfair citrangequat ( No. 48005) from McRae, Telfair Co., Ga., September 28,
1921. Natural size.
•
PLATE 3
. Two Thomasville citrangequat cuttings ( at left and right) each 4, v, months old.
. In the middle two I8- months- old seedlings, showing the stubs from which the cuttings
were taken. About} natural size.
Citrangequats and Li mequats PLATE 3
Journal of Agricultural Research "",,, shington, D. C.
Citrangequats and Limequats
J au rnal of Agricu itu ral Research
PLATE 4
Washington, D. C.
PLATE 4
Eustis limequat ( No. 48798), grown in the greenhouse at Washington, D. C. Natural
size.
•
PLATE 5
A.- Lakeland limequat from Lakeland, Fla., November 6, 1919.
B.- Tavares limequat from Glen St. Mary, Fla., December 23, 1921.
Citrangequats and Limequats
Journal of Agricultural Research
B
PLATE 5
Washington, D. C.