FLORA'S LEXICON. 153 



RANGE-TREE. Citrus Aurantium. Class 

 18, Polyadelphia. Order : Icosandria. 



This is a very ancient genus, and combines 

 many excellencies in its species; it is a 

 handsome evergreen ; it has most odoriferous 

 flowers, and brilliant, fragrant, and delicious 

 fruits. Loudon observes, that "it is one 

 of the most striking of fruit-bearing trees, and must have attracted 

 the notice of aboriginal man long before other fruits of less bril- 

 liancy, but of more nutriment or flavour. The golden apples of 

 the heathens, and forbidden fruit of the Jews, are supposed to 

 allude to this family, though it is remarkable that we have no 

 authentic records of any species of citrus having been known ; 

 certainly none were cultivated by the Romans." In the latter 

 part of the seventeenth century it was a very fashionable tree in 

 conservatories, where few exotics of other sorts were at that 

 time to be found. It has been likened to a generous friend, who 

 is ever loading us with favours. 



GENEROSITY. 



Ah, sweet cousin Blanche, let's see 

 What's the flower resembling thee! 

 With those dove-like eyes of thine, 

 And thy fair hair's silken twine; 

 With thy low, broad forehead, white 

 As marble, and as purely bright; 

 With thy mouth so calm and sweet, 

 And thy dainty hands and feet; 

 What's the flower most like thee? 

 Blossom of the orange-tree ! 



HOWITT. 



O, my good lord, the world is but a word; 

 Were it all yours, to give it in a breath, 

 How quickly were it gone ! 



Shakspeare. 



