ORANGES AND LEMONS. 11 



is curious. The Arabic and Persian "narang" gave 

 " arang," then " orang," then Orange. Thus, the 

 word is not derived from the Latin aurum gold, 

 French or. By dropping the " n " and changing the 

 vowel, the original name was made to suit the golden 

 colour of the fruit. In the same way the old English 

 " nadder," German " Natter," became adder by the 

 loss of the "n." The Spanish word for Orange still 

 keeps the initial " n." 



A Nicois peasant, unless he is speaking French 

 to a stranger, says " Portugal " for Orange. How 

 is it that the Golden Fruit is called a Portugal in 

 Italy, in Liguria, and in some other countries of 

 Europe? In England also it was formerly called 

 " the China or Portugal Orange." The explanation 

 is that whereas the Citron came direct from the East, 

 the Orange was introduced into Europe by the long 

 sea route later than the time of Vasco di Gam a. 

 Thus, instead of spreading westward into Europe like 

 the Citron, it would be earned eastward from the 

 Atlantic Coast, and would bear with it the name of 

 the Lusitanian shores where it first landed. 



There are large plantations of Orange trees at 

 Poros in the Peloponnese, in the Island of Sardinia, 

 in Majorca, and in Sicily. By the lake of Garda, the 

 tree requires a good deal of protection in Winter. In 

 Florida, though the latitude is that of Cairo, much 

 damage has been done by frost ; and in California, 

 equally far south, the trees do not escape injury. 

 The Orange cannot endure protracted drought. Thus, 

 in Sicily, each tree must receive 1,000 litres of water 

 every twenty days throughout the Summer. 



On the Eiviera, the Orange is almost confined to 



