ABOUT VARIETIES. 139 



SATSUMA.* 



This is another of the kid-glove oranges only recently 

 introduced, and is destined to take high rank as a table 

 and dessert fruit. It was brought to Florida from the 

 island of Kimbin, Japan, in 1874 and in 1878, and takes 

 its name from one of the chief cities of that island. The 

 tree is thornless, the leaves peculiarly thick, lanciolate, 

 medium size, petiole linear. 



The fruit is medium size, flattened; skin, deep orange 

 color, smooth and thin, easily detached ; pulp, dark orange ; 

 segments part freely, fine grain, tender, sweet, and deli- 

 cious ; best in quality of the kid-glove family. 



This tree has one quality which will render it a valuable 

 acquisition to our list of oranges it is remarkably hardy. 

 During the cold winter of 1880 the cold wave of Decem- 

 ber 25th, which injured so many trees in the northern and 

 central portions of Florida, the Satsuma stood unharmed. 

 On Fort George Island, near the mouth of the St. John's 

 River, where the Satsuma was first planted on Florida soil, 

 lemons, limes, and shaddocks suffered in fruit and limb; 

 sweet oranges lost their leaves and young tender growth, 

 while the Satsumas, close by their side, did not suffer in the 

 least, either in fruit, leaf, or branch, the leaf not even turn- 

 ing yellow or dropping; and in January, 1881, the same 

 experience was repeated. 



SPICE. 



Another of the kid-glove oranges, introduced into the 

 State by Col. Codrington, editor of the Florida Agricultur 

 rist, from seed planted nine years ago ; hence is yet rare. 



*For some unexplained reason the Satsuma does not thrive when budded 

 on sour orange stock, hence it should never be used, a slow, stunted growth 

 resulting. Always bud the Satsuma on the sweet orange, grape fruit, lime, 

 or lemon stock, the former two only, however, in the more northern sec- 

 tions of the State. 



