The Orange. 175 



probably helped to give it further extension on the 

 northern side of the Mediterranean. Their enterprises, 

 though in some respects so futile and unprofitable, 

 contributed greatly to the new birth of civilization in 

 Europe, to the diffusion of the love of art, and of zest on 

 behalf of the beautiful in all its forms. With the history 

 of the Crusades is indissolubly bound up the entire idea 

 of Heraldry in its best intent and significance. Abreast 

 of it runs the history of the uprise of Gothic Architecture, 

 the purest and most romantic it is possible for the mind 

 of man to conceive. Abreast of it, also, assuredly would 

 be found, were they written, the earliest records of the 

 introduction from the east of some of our most lovely 

 flowers and precious fruits, the Seville orange leading the 

 way. The Seville orange is now extensively cultivated in 

 the warmer parts of the Mediterranean region, more par- 

 ticularly, as of old, in Spain. The flavour of the rind 

 recommends it for " marmalade " so called. It is also in 

 great request for the preparation of essential oil or otto 

 of orange, for flavouring extracts, various medicines, and 

 liqueurs. Curagoa owes its enticement very largely to 

 the rind of the Bitter orange. This famous liqueur is 

 prepared, not, as often supposed, in the island after 

 which it is named, but in Holland. It is simply that 

 Curagoa supplies the very finest description of peel. In 

 Amsterdam there is a regular orange-peel mart, where 

 saucers containing samples from various countries are set 

 out upon long tables. Hither come the manufacturers of 

 the liqueur, who can tell at once from the taste of the 



