FRAGRANCE AND FRUIT 47 



for certain varieties of citrus fruits to provide two 

 crops, and the second, which ripens about the beginning 

 of August, the superior in size, appearances generally, 

 and distinctly in flavour. The fruit is just as juicy as 

 that which ripens when the air is saturated with the 

 moisture of the wet season, while its fragrance almost 

 equals that of the snowy flowers whence it sprang. 

 These facts hasten to this conclusion that the orange- 

 grower has something beyond mere money in compensa- 

 tion for his toil. Can it be called toil? Does he not 

 for the most part, after the first and essential pre- 

 liminaries are of the past, permit Nature to have her 

 own wayward will with his dutiful trees ? Does he 

 always and invariably cut out the dead wood which 

 tells of much too strenuous efforts on their part to 

 justify their existence and his care ? Does he attempt 

 to exterminate the pretty flies which send to the ground 

 a certain percentage, while yet the fruit is immature 

 and bitter ? Does he let the light of the caressing sun 

 into the hearts of his pet trees by removing superfluous 

 twigs ? Well does he know that if he tended them as 

 he should their bounty to him would be much magnified. 

 Yet does he dream on, accepting that which comes, 

 admiring leafage, bloom, and fragrant fruit, and always 

 postponing the day when substantial aid and credit 

 should be given. There is something to be said in 

 favour of this happy attitude towards good-natured trees. 

 Should it not suffice to have given them monopoly and 

 choice ? Many others, and some of far nobler propor- 

 tions, have been exterminated for their special benefit 

 and advantage. They have been grown from seed of 

 most highly complimented fruit; their infancy and 

 youth have been nurtured and protected ; each has been 

 assigned its proper place with due regard to the welfare 

 of neighbours; less promising vegetation has been 



