AN 
ENCYCLOPAEDIA 
505 
OF HORTICULTURE. 
Orange—continued. 
from which the host of forms have sprung, are of Asiatic 
origin. Some idea of the number of these cultivated 
varieties, and their range of differences in the size, form, 
colour, and taste of the fruits, may be obtained when it 
is stated that, in the “ Histoire Naturelle des Orangers,” 
a folio work, by Risso and Poiteau (1818), there are no 
less than 109 plates. The literaturo of the subject is 
very considerable; but the most important work, besides 
the one just mentioned, is Gallesio’s “ Traité du Citrus” 
(8vo), published at Paris, in 1811. 
Under favourable conditions, the Orange is a very free 
bearer. Wallace mentions a tree in St. Michael’s that 
bore 20,000 fruits in one crop. The longevity of the 
plant, too, is not less remarkable. At Versailles, one 
tree is still growing which was sown in 1421, and the 
famous tree, now upwards of 30ft. in height, in the 
Convent of St. Sabina, at Rome, is said to be more 
than 600 years old. “In Cordova, the noted seat of 
Moorish grandeur and luxury, in Spain, there are Orange- 
trees still remaining which are considered to be 600 or 
700 years old” (“ Treasury of Botany”). 
Some commentators suppose that the Apples of Gold” 
were Oranges; but there does not seem to be any definite 
evidence that the Orange was cultivated in Palestine in 
the time of Solomon. More than 700 years later, Theo- 
phrastus, however, describes the Citron as occurring in 
Northern Persia (Media), and as being cultivated by the 
Jewish nation, in Syria, while under Roman dominion. 
In 1884, no less than 4,958,838 bushels of Oranges 
and Lemons were imported into this country. Oils of 
Neroli and Bergamot, highly esteemed as perfumes, are 
obtained—the first, by distillation, from the flowers of 
the common Orange; and the second, either by distilla- 
tion or expression, from the rind of the Bergamot 
variety. 
Cultivation. At one time or another during the long 
period in which varieties of the Orange have been culti- 
vated in this country, a few plants at least have been 
amongst the occupants of almost every garden of any 
extent, more especially in those established at an early 
date. An orangery, as it is termed, is usually a 
massive building, found in gardens adjoining old man- 
sions, and not unfrequently constructed with a ceiling 
and a slate roof, on an architectural design externally 
similar in detail to the mansion. The custom was to 
grow Orange-trees in large tubs or pots, keep them 
throughout the winter in an orangery, and place them 
in the open air during summer. Since the introduction 
of glass into all houses devoted to horticultural purposes, 
and such numerous representatives in the way of plants 
have been brought from foreign lands, conservatories have 
taken the place of orangeries in most of the gardens of 
modern times. Orange-trees, too, are not grown now 
to nearly the extent they were formerly, even for orna- 
mental purposes. In gardens where an orangery still 
stands, its special occupants seem to have vanished. 
This may partly be accounted for by the plants being 
exposed to a continued low temperature, by their being 
placed in a position throughout the winter, in a house 
with insufficient light, and by the application of too 
much water at this season. Orange-trees have at all 
times been grown in this country more as decorative 
plants than for the use of their beautiful fruits, 
when these are well ripened, for dessert. The highly 
fragrant flowers and glossy evergreen foliage are 
of themselves sufficient to render the tree deservedly 
attractive as a decorative subject ; and the frequency 
with which orange blossoms are in demand for bridal 
festivals, &c., is well known as being another explanation 
of the plant’s popularity, There is scarcely any part of 
the season when neither flowers nor fruits are present, 
in at least some stage of development, on trees of suffi- 
cient age and size for producing either or both of them. 
Vol. II. 
Orange—continued. 
Orange-trees grown in tubs should be provided with 
efficient drainage, and be placed in soil calculated to last 
a long time, such as a compost of good loam, to which 
may be added some dry cow manure or crushed bones, 
and some charred ballast, charcoal, or sand, to keep the 
whole open. If the roots become unhealthy, or are not 
properly attended to, indications of the foliage turning 
yellow and becoming sickly are soon apparent. In the 
treatment and cultivation of the Orange, it must be 
remembered that the tree is a fruit-bearing subject, and 
not, like many other evergreen plants, of use only for 
its flowers or ornamental foliage. As such, it must 
never be allowed to become very dry at the root, it 
must have a season of growth, and another of rest, and 
always have plenty of light. The roots, too, should not 
be interfered with more than is really necessary; but 
comparative restriction is recommended, provided the 
soil is good, and attention is given to applying an annual 
top-dressing in spring. Deer or sheep dung, with a little 
loam intermixed, forms an excellent top-dressing. When 
the trees are grown for ornamental purposes alone, they 
are not usually subjected to anything higher than a 
greenhouse temperature. Under this treatment, they 
commence growing about March, and often do not flower 
until towards Midsummer. The fruits which set after- 
wards are too late for ripening before autumn, and, con- 
sequently, they hang green throughout the winter, and 
do not ripen off until the following summer. Thus, 
, under cool treatment, Oranges cannot be ripened in one 
| season, and are then much inferior to what they would 
be if subjected to a higher temperature, more in ac- 
cordance with the tree’s requirements. It is surprising, 
however, to what an extent interest is evoked in the 
minds of visitors to garden establishments on seeing 
living specimens of trees whose fruits only have, hitherto, 
been so well known to them from foreign introductions, 
Orange-trees bear a considerable amount of ill-usage, 
and, in consequence of this, they are often subjected 
to so much neglect that specimens seen in gardens, 
showing signs of bad health by a stunted growth and 
small yellow leaves, instead of broad, glossy, green 
ones, are, perhaps, oftener the rule than the excep- 
tion. The trees should have plenty of water throughout 
the summer, and be frequently syringed from February 
onwards to autumn, early in the morning, and again in 
the afternoon; this tends to keep the leaves clean and 
also to destroy insects. The plants may either be placed 
in a sheltered, warm position, outside, during June and 
the two following months, or kept in a greenhouse, with 
plenty of air and light. In autumn and winter, water 
should be partially withheld ; but not to an extent suffi- 
to render the soil quite dry at any time. Any 
that fall into ill-health (indicated by the appear- 
: ance of the leaves, as already alluded to), through 
neglect, or as a consequence of improper treatment, 
should be cut back somewhat in spring, placed in a 
' moist, growing temperature, with some bottom heat, and 
be kept well syringed. The roots, too, should be 
examined, and if, as will most likely be the case, many 
of them are found dead, they should be shaken out, the 
dead portion cut away, and the others placed in an 
entirely new compost, with clean drainage, and in a 
smaller-sized pot or tub. Orange-trees in very large 
- tubs have been efficiently brought from imperfect health 
into a thriving condition; by the latter being surrounded 
with a thickness of about 3ft. of fermenting material 
when the season of growth begins. This is renewed 
occasionally, until the tree is sufficiently restored to no 
longer need such help; and, as it is then later in 
summer, the mean natural temperature is considerably. 
higher than when the new growth needed extra en- 
couragement to induce it to start. 
The natural habit assumed: by Orange-trees preventa 
ar 
