CULTIVATION OP THE OKANGE IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 119 
luscious fruit, were now before us, one of the objects of our visit • and 
the accounts we had received of them were certainly not overrated • in- 
deed, it is only by actual inspection and attentive examination that an 
opinion can be formed of them. It is seldom that in orange-grown,- 
countries trees are seen of this magnitude. The photograph, taken 
by Degotardi, for the Paris Exhibition of 1867, although very accu- 
rately done, does not convey the appearance of the original in the 
graceful drooping of the dense foliage, the delicate tints of colour from 
a dark to the lightest hue of green, the light and shade of the leaves 
being contrasted by the rich colour of the ripe and ripening fruit. This 
is all lost in a photograph ; the general appearance of these beautiful 
vegetable productions can only be obtained by a drawing in water- 
colours by an artist accustomed to sketch from nature, and who would 
succeed in delineating their natural beauties ; the lofty and rugged 
sandstone rocks on the opposite side of the creek, forming a back- 
ground, would afford a good relief to the picture ; this portion is well 
rought out m the photograph. These fine trees are now forty years 
,° ' and aIth °ugh of full growth and mature age, were covered 'with a 
wunant bright foliage, the bark smooth and healthy, young slender 
s S J 18 b J" ancl »ng in all directions, indicating a vigorous and robust 
able 6 h aUd bearing large cro P s of fruit eve, 7 y ear - An a gree- 
e shade was obtained under the extensive branches, where several 
The r ,S l!° Uld find a pleasant and c ° o1 retreat from the heat of the suu - 
Wa ° ' ghest of the two trees that were most remarkable for their size 
as .3o feet, and the other was 30 feet high, but it surpassed the former 
wer I „ C J rCUmference of its branches, which, by actual measurement, 
firstt i Gt ^ diameter frora the extremities of the branches. The 
tion T r ° ates a few feet from the ground, and, below the bifurca- 
fere' & * ^ fr ° m the ground ' the trunk measured five feet in circum- 
was^h' fi TLe Circuraference of the lo ^er part of the bifurcated stems 
fresh v/ 5 id 3 feet ° inCh6Sj aud the SeC ° nd ' 2 feet * ° incheS * Tbe 
as w ]\ n( ° rCen ° f tne folia o e » antl general healthy appearance of these, 
well e 1 ^ ad the 0range and other f ruit trees in these extensive and 
a re 1 aDted gardens could not but excite our admiration. The gardens 
to 30 feet. 
elevation 
plant rl • — ^ » x umegranate, quince, ana otuer truit trees, were 
ant a 'V^ gardens » but Orange, Lemon, and Apple trees, of luxuri- 
ant ° I f ° rmed the larg6St portion of the fruit trees ' P roducin g a 
farely rf ever seen in any other climate in the world. 
