The Orange Family. 161 



sent indeed "a golden gift." Of all the fruits received 

 from latitudes distinctly warmer than our own, the orange 

 is the most refreshing and the most healthful. It is 

 invaluable, among the exotic fruits, in the circumstance 

 of being as cheap as the commonest of the home-grown, 

 so that the poorest labourer can without difficulty go 

 shares with the patrician, to whom, despite the cheapness, 

 it is equally welcome. It is fitted, before all others, to 

 be the universal fruit of commerce. No description of 

 juicy fruit allows, in the same degree, of being packed 

 in boxes, and then subjected to the close confinement 

 of the hold of a ship for two or three weeks. The 

 aromatic oil in the leathery rind preserves it from the 

 effects both of heat and cold, and the acridity of the 

 former renders it proof against the attacks of insects. 

 Apples get worm-eaten ; Queen Mab knew what happens 

 to hazel-nuts ; the plum may harbour a grub ; the orange 

 never. In course of time, like all other juicy fruits, it 

 must needs decay, but no juicy fruit retains its goodness 

 so long or so well. People can have the orange as 

 sound and fresh as when newly gathered, in any part of 

 the world, at almost every season of the year, and in 

 almost any quantity. For let the orange-tree only have 

 the warm and delicately moistened climate to which 

 by nature it is co-ordinated, with plenty of sunshine, air, 

 and light; protect it from frost and the asperity of 

 stormy winds, which always try it sorely, and no plant 

 in nature is more bountiful. A good orange-orchard 

 literally grows gold for its possessor. It presents, also, 



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