THE SHADDOCK. 337 



with but little acidity — and some acid, with but little 

 sweetness. The sliaddock derived its specific name 

 from havrn<>; been first carried from China to the 

 West Indies by Captain Shaddock. It has, however, 

 been nei>;lected there, and now but seldom merits its 

 oriental name of sweet ball. Tlie planters have never 

 been remarkable for their knowledo^e of science, or 

 their skill in the new operations of the arts ; and 

 thus, instead of projjagating' the shaddock by bud- 

 ding, as is done in China, and which is the only way 

 that it can be improved, or even kept from degene- 

 rating, they have reared it from seed, and conse- 

 quently have generally obtained a harsh and sour 

 sort, which is of very little value. It is showy, no 

 doubt, from its size, and the appearance of the tree 

 when grooving ; but it is the least valuable or desi- 

 rable of the genus produced in the west. 



These are the four species of the orange genus 

 usually known in commerce ; but, on account of the 

 beauty, the good qualities, and the abundance of 

 these delightful fruits, as well as the length of time 

 that they remain in season, they demand a more de- 

 tailed account than can, in this sketch, be given of 

 many of the other tropical fruits. The manner, too, 

 in which truth and fable are blended in their com- 

 mon history, renders such an account more de- 

 sirable ; and thus we shall devote a few pages to the 

 further consideration of the genus. 



At the time when the people of Europe first 

 visited the Levant in great numbers, — that is, during 

 the crusades for the recovery of Syria from the do- 

 minion of the Saracens, — oranges were found abun- 

 dant in that country. Though they were in reality 

 cultivated trees, their number, and the beauty and 

 goodness of their fruit, naturally caused the adven- 

 turers (who were not very conversant with Natural 



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