162 OBSERVATIONS UrON THE ORANGE TREE. 



around London. This delightful result I see has induced the 

 nurserymen and florists to give special attention to the production of 

 such flowers, more particularly for spring [and early summer, and 

 the flowers of the orange tree are most deservedly in high estimation. 

 Thinking that a few particulars relative to it, would, at this season, 

 too, be acceptable, I send the following for insertion in the " Flori- 

 cultural Cabinet." 



The derivation of the word Citrus is unknown : some say it is the 

 name of a place in Asia ; others will have it of African origin ; some 

 fix it on the Arabian. — French, l'oranger.— Italian, melarancio; 

 arancio ; melangolo. 



The orange most known in England is the China or Portugal 

 Orange, so called from its having been brought from China by the 

 Portuguese. There are several other varieties in the English gardens ; 

 as the Turkey-orange, the Double-flowering, the Dwarf or Nutmeg- 

 orange, the Seville, &c. 



The leaves of the Dwarf-orange are very small, and grow in 

 clusters ; the flowers grow very close together and appear like a 

 nosegay, the branches being completely covered with them. This 

 species is very ornamental ; and, when in blossom, will perfume a 

 room most delightfully. 



The Seville Orange is the most hardy, and has the largest and most 

 beautiful leaves. The China Orange rarely produces good fruit in 

 England : the varieties with striped leaves never produce it good, nor 

 do they bear so many blossoms as the plain ones. 



To have Oranges in perfection, it is considered necessary to graft 

 the trees, even in the warm countries of which they are natives : — 

 " We rode deeper into the wood, and refreshed ourselves with wild 

 Oranges (laranja da terra'), which have a mawkish, sweet taste. 

 Oranges, to be good, must be grafted ; even in Brazil, if suffered to 

 grow wild, the fruit is flat and rather bitter. Their flowers emitted 

 a delicious smell, and attracted a great number of humming-birds." 

 — Prince Maximilian 's Travels in Brazil, p. 76. 



In another part of his work, the same author says : " The heat 

 was intense ; we therefore refreshed ourselves with cold punch and 

 excellent Oranges, which in many parts may be had gratis. This 

 excellent fruit can be eaten without injury to the health, even when 

 a person is over-heated ; but in the evening it is said not to ba 



