102 ORANGE CULTURE IN FLORIDA. 



is grown from seed it is rare to find it deprived of 

 thorns, - 



The- China Orange is a variety excelling all others 

 'in thy; perfection of its fruit, of which the juice is the 

 sweetest, the ^nost abundant, and the most perfumed. 

 The skin is always smooth, glossy, and so thin that 

 one can scarcely detach it from the pulp. This is 

 characteristic of this variety. 



The Red-fruited Orange is a singular variety. Its 

 appearance, its leaf, its flower, are all exactly like the 

 common orange. Its fruit alone is distinguished by a 

 color of blood, which develops itself gradually and 

 like flakes. When the fruit begins to ripen it is like 

 other oranges ; little by little, spots of blood-color ap- 

 pear in its pulp ; as it advances to maturity, these en- 

 large, becoming deeper, and finally embrace all the 

 pulp and spread to the skin, which is, however, but 

 rarely covered by the peculiar color ; yet this some- 

 times occurs if oranges are left upon the trees after 

 the month of May. 



This orange is multiplied only by grafts, having few 

 seeds, and those of little value. This is a proof that 

 it is a monster ; if it were the type of a species it would 

 yield more seed and reproduce itself by seed. Its 

 branches are without thorns, its fruit is sweet, but 

 iess so than the China orange, and it has thicker 

 skin. 



It is cultivated largely in Malta and Provence. In 

 Liguria. it is found chiefly among amateurs and seeds- 

 men . Gallesio* 



So far as the Florida Fruit Growers' Association 

 has determined, through their committee, the no- 



