THE LYCHEE

• Is a sub-tropical fruit of great antiquity in China, where it is considered one of the world's finest fresh fruits
• Almost everyone likes it at first taste.
• Fruits well in only a very few sections of the world.
• Grows and fruits very well in parts of South Florida.
• Tree fruits fairly young—4 to 6 years.
• The Brewster variety deep freezes very well.
• On suitable ground and with good care increases production an average of about 20 pounds per year for first 20 years or so—there is no reliable Florida experience beyond that.
• In China said to produce heaviest from 50 to 100 years of age.
• In China trees 1,000 years old are said to be still fruiting, which indicates freedom from exterminating blights.
• About 50 trees to the acre for orchard planting.
• Staminate and pistillate flowers on same tree.
• Makes a beautiful dooryard tree.
• Air-layered trees grow faster than citrus after about the fourth year.
• On suitable ground and with good care the tree increases spread an average of about two feet each year, up to at least twenty years.
• Is considered about as hardy when mature as the sweet orange.
• Production in Florida will necessarily be limited due to lack of suitable land, much of which is planted to citrus.
• Market price has increased steadily as supply reaches more consumers.