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CULTUEE OF THE OEANGE. 



"N CE the Citrus Aurantium, or common Orange, was the most 

 fashionable and prevailing ornament of the greenhouse 

 and conservatory, and it is still, though so much neglected, 

 ' well deserving the little skill and attention necessary to 

 its growth. Its beauties are known to every one at all 

 conversant with horticulture, and therefore they require no encomium, 

 though were it only for the pleasing associations so intimately con- 

 nected with the plant, room should be found for it in every suitable 

 plant structure of the least pretensions. " It is," as Loudon has 

 observed, " one of the most striking of fruit-bearing trees, and 

 must have attracted the notice of aboriginal man long before other 

 fruits of less brilliancy, though of more nutriment or flavour." 



The first requisite to the culture of this noble plant is a strong 

 rich soil, composed chiefly of friable loam from a common or pasture, 

 with the addition of about a third of old hotbed manure, and a rather 

 less quantity of peat or clean sand ; these thoroughly incorporated, 

 aff'ord a highly nutritious medium for the roots. The only other 

 point of consequence in their management is to provide an agreeable 

 temperature aod some slight shade while the new wood is being 

 formed : the usual greenhouse treatment will preserve them in ex- 

 cellent health at all other times, but thenthej require, and must have, 

 if luxuriant plants are desired, a close humid atmosphere, with a 

 temperature of about 60', and protection from the sun's rays until 

 the new growth is completed. 



Yery little pruning is best for them, only just to keep them 

 in order and proper form, except in the case of old trees that 

 have become naked and unsightly ; these are much benefited by 

 severely cutting back, being at the same time repotted and placed 

 in heat, to induce them the more readily to form a new and luxuriant 

 growth. 



Oranges are frequently infested with two troublesome insects, 

 the scale and mealy bug. The most eff'ectual remedy for them is, 

 sponging all over the plant with warm soap-suds, and afterwards 

 cleaning with the syringe ; attention to the above, and the usual 

 routine, watering, etc., with an occasional supply of liquid manure, 

 yf\\\ insure handsome healthy plants, and plenty of fruit. W. 



EEANTHEMUM PIJLCHELLUM. 



E AKTHEMIBI pulchellum is a native of the East Indies, 

 whence it was brought about the year 1796. Some 

 time since the name was changed. There are, or were, 

 three species of Eranthemum — all of them ornamental ; 

 but the finest is certainly the present subject, producing 

 its spikes of beautiful blue flowers from Januarv to October. 



