58 
CITRUS AURANTIUM. 
there is a fragrance in the aroma which never satiates nor offends ; and, as the 
tree is at one and the same time in all stages of its bearing in flower, in fruit 
just set, and in golden fruit, inviting the "hand to pull and the palate to taste," 
it is hardly possible to conceive or imagine any object more delightful. There 
is something, too, peculiar in the organization of the fruit of this tree. Its rind, or 
external covering, is of a spongy texture, containing but little juice or sap of any 
kind in its substance ; but the external surface is covered, or tuberculated with 
iittle glands, which secrete an acrid, volatile oil, very inflammable, and of a 
strong, pungent taste. The interior of the fruit is usually divided into from nine 
to twelve carpels or cells, which contain the pulp, seeds, and juice, and are united 
by a whitish pellicle or leathery skin, radiating from the centre to the rind, and 
may easily be separated without wasting the juice. The seeds are solitary or 
several, and are attached to the inner angle of the carpel, and in some varieties, 
are entirely wanting. 
Varieties. The varieties or races of the orange have been greatly multiplied ; 
but whether from the proneness to change from some original differences in the 
species, or from difference of soil and climate, it is difficult to determine. It was 
the opinion of Galesio, who described forty principal kinds, as cultivated in 
Italy, that they were all derived from the common orange, although some are 
more acid, and others more bitter in their flavour. The most important varieties 
may be described as follows : 
1. C a. umbilicata. Navel Golden-fruited Orange-tree; Oranger nombrli. 
of the French ; Nabel Orangenbaum, of the Germans ; Melara?icio umbilico, of 
the Italians ; Naranjo ombligo, of the Spaniards ; Laranjeira embiga, of the 
Portuguese and Brazilians. This variety is a curious lusus naturae, differing 
from the common orange by having, near the crown, and in some instances, 
quite outside of the pulp, at the end opposite the stem, an excrescence resembling 
a small orange when the rind is removed, into which is drawn all the superflu- 
ous or objectionable portion of the fruit, leaving the legitimate production free 
from impurities, and rendering it the most delicious and agreeable of its kind. 
The fruit is usually round, or slightly oblong, rather larger than that of the com- 
mon orange, with a rind of about the same colour, surface, and thickness. The 
pulp is of a yellowish colour, of a delicious flavour, and better filled with juice 
than oranges generally in the torrid zone. It is chiefly cultivated in the neigh- 
bourhood of Bahia, in Brazil, where it is thought to be one of the greatest 
prodigies of the vegetable kingdom. The author of the present work claims the 
honour of first introducing this variety into the United States. He brought sev- 
eral trees from Brazil, in 1S35, and caused them to be planted on the estate of 
the late Z. Kingsley, on Drayton Island, Lake George, East Florida, where 
they are believed still to exist. 
2. C. a. sinensis. Chinese Golden-fruited Orange-tree, with ovate-oblong 
leaves ; round, smooth, and rather flattened fruit, which is much esteemed, and 
is called by the Portuguese, Laranja da Xina ; by the French, Orange douce; 
and Porto-gallo or Poma de Sino, by the Italians. 
3. C. a. pyriformis. Pear-shaped Golden-fruited Orange-tree. This variety 
may be known by its elliptical, acute leaves, and large, top-shaped fruit. It is 
one of the most hardy kinds, and is well worthy of cultivation. 
4. C. a. sanguinea. Blood-red-pidped Golden-fruited Orange-tree, distinguished 
by its ovate-oblong pellucid leaves, and medium-sized, round, rough, and red- 
dish-yellow fruit, with a pulp irregularly mottled with crimson. The Arancio 
di sugo rosso of the Sicilians, is a sub-variety of it, who call the true blood-red 
variety, Arancio di Malta sanguigno. There is another sub- variety with small 
fruit, growing about Nice, called by the Italians, Arancio a foglio stretta. 
5. C. a. cortidulcicula. Sweet-skinned Golden- fruited Orange; Pomme 
