A NAVEL GRAPEFRUIT 
This variable fruit (photographed actual size) shows two great deviations from the original 
condition of the grapefruit. In the first place, it has Icst its seeds: in the second place it 
has taken on a navel, just like that of the navel orange. In the case of the grapefruit, 
the navel is scarcely visible from the outside. This fruit is of no particular value com- 
mercially, but serves graphically to illustrate the fact that extreme bud variations or 
“sports’’ are constantly taking place in the citrus fruits, and probably in all other culti- 
vated fruits. 
_tion to this principle. (Fig. 6.) 
Paper Rind St. Michael fruits borne on 
two separate trees. One of these lots 
Mr. Cutter designated as the normal 
Paper Rind St. Michael and the other 
as “‘Reverted Types.”’ In commenting 
on the “‘ Reverted types”’ he said: 
“The “Reverted Types’ of the St. 
Michael are from a tree which is bearing 
at the time the usual type of the same. 
A comparison of these ‘Reverted Types’ 
with the usual and with common 
oranges shows that the St. Michael, 
so highly prized for its splendid 
quality, juiciness and solidity . . . is 
itself a sport. Specimens are occa- 
It is highly necessary that horticulturists keep on the lookout for such 
varia‘ions, and that they propagate from the desirable, not the undesirable ones. 
orange industry of California is now bein 
The 
g almost made over, in some sections, by atten- 
sionally found which are half ‘Paper 
Rind’ and half ‘Reverted.’ ” 
On April 21, 1887, in reply to a 
request for further information con- 
cerning the St. Michael variations he 
wrote as follows: 
PAPER RIND VALENCIAS 
“In my former letter I used the term 
‘reverted type’ [of St. Michael oranges] 
to indicate an orange that has sported 
back to the normal form, appearance 
and quality. These ‘reverted types’ 
grew on the same trees and among the 
usual kind of ‘paper rind’ St. Michaels. 
453 
