CHAPTER XIII. 



THE ORANGE AND FIG. 

 THE ORANGE. 



THIS fruit grows freely and abundantly in Florida, and it may be 

 cultivated to advantage in the Gulf States, southern Texas, and in 

 the warmer portions of California. With some protection, it may 

 be raised in the southern States further north. The tree will bear 

 several degrees of frost, if protected from the sun's rays in thawing. 

 For this purpose temporary sheds are sometimes erected, but a 

 covering of evergreen branches, more or less dense, according to 

 the severity of the climate, would be found more convenient in 

 some localities. 



The bitter orange is naturalized in Florida, and being hardier 

 than the cultivated sorts, it may be employed as stocks for budding 

 or grafting. Young orange trees are raised easily from seed sown 

 in spring ; the more thrifty seedlings may be budded the same 

 season, and the smaller ones the following year. Or they may be 

 whip -grafted the succeeding spring. They will begin to bear in 

 four or five years. 



VARIETIES. 



The catalogue of the American Pomological Society recommends 

 for Florida, Mississippi, and Louisiana, 'the Brazilian, Louisiana 

 Creole, and Mandarin. The latter is small, with a thin rind, and 

 dark orange flesh, which is juicy, rich, and excellent. The St. 

 Augustine orange is large and handsome, with a sweet and excellent 

 flavor. The Maltese has a thick rind and red pulp, and is usually 

 very good, but sometimes slightly bitter. The Havana much 

 resembles the St. Augustine, but is hardly so large and good, and 

 is the most common sort in our market. 



THE FIG. 



The fig may be raised in open ground without protection in 

 most of the States south of Virginia. In the Middle States it re- 



