165 



yield large and certain crops, as a rule, in comparison with other 

 fruits. Besides their value as fruit producers, the trees, owing to 

 their beautiful foliage and compact growth, are also very serviceable 

 as ornamental plants for the pleasure garden, and they are very 

 effective for shrubberies, either planted singly or in groups. 



Some few years ago it was supposed by many that the Orange and 

 Lemon could only be successfully cultivated in localities near to the 

 sea-coast, but experience has proved that they will thrive to perfection^ 

 in many of the inland districts of New South Wales, South Australia, 

 Queensland, and Victoria. They may also be successfully cultivated 

 in the milder parts of New Zealand. Many have recently turned 

 their attention to the culture of Citrus fruits in the well-grounded 

 belief that they are likely to give good returns to the planters. 

 Having had a rather extensive experience in the cultivation of these 

 fruits, the writer can say that there is a good foundation for this 

 belief, and it is certain that the Orange and Lemon may be grown 

 most successfully in many districts, provided the trees receive the 

 attention they require. In fact, the culture of Citrus fruits will 

 probably rank among* the most profitable of our agricultural industries 

 in the future, as there is a rapidly expanding home market for them, 

 and any surplus that may be produced can be sold to advantage in 

 other parts of the world. The climatic and soil conditions are as 

 perfect as in any of the older countries where the Orange and Lemon 

 are largely cultivated, and Australasian-grown fruit is in season when 

 the ordinary sources of supply for Europe and America are exhausted. 

 Australian growers have a great future before them in exporting 

 Oranges and Lemons to Great Britain, the United States, and Canada 

 at certain periods of the year when the supplies from Southern Europe, 

 California, and Florida have ceased owing* to the season's being over. 

 There is nothing to prevent the Australian colonies from becoming 

 large exporting countries if the Orange-growing industry is carried 

 out with judgment and energy. From the writer's experience he 

 has arrived at certain conclusions as to what is required to allow the 

 Citrus family to be cultivated successfully, and these are dealt with 

 at length in the following remarks. 



HISTORY. 



The various useful species of the Citrus family are supposed to have 

 originated in China and Central Asia, and to have been taken to Syria 

 by the Arabs. No species seems to have been known to the ancient 

 Hebrews, Egyptians, Greeks, or Romans, as they are not mentioned by 

 the writers of these nations. There is some uncertainty as to when they 

 were first known in Europe, but the Citron is said to have been intro- 

 duced to Italy in the second century. The Sweet Orange appears not to 

 have been known till the fourteenth century, according to historical 

 records, being introduced by returning crusaders from Palestine. The 

 Lime and Lemon were not known till a century later, and the Shaddock 

 not till a much later period. The first mention of the Citrus fruits 



