"US. 



lof 



54 XVII. RUTACE.E. [Citrus. 



profitable there at present than the fruit of the sweet Orange. In the south 

 Europe the Orange attains a much larger size than in India. A yield of 3000 

 to 5000 Oranges per tree annually is not rare. Near Milis, on the island of 

 Sardinia, there are trees more than 6 ft. in girth, said to be 700 years old. The 

 wood of the Orange is hard, close-, and even-grained, yellowish, weighs 49 lb. 

 when seasoned, and 65-70 lb. when green (Skinner). In South Europe it is 

 used for turning, engraving, inlaid and cabinet work, and excellent walking- 

 sticks are made of shoots and branches. 



In favour of considering the sweet and bitter Orange as distinct species, the 

 fact has been urged that in some districts in the south of Europe the seed of 

 the sweet Orange always reproduces its own kind without grafting. Regard- 

 ing the fact there seems to be no doubt ; Gallesio affirms it as the result of his 

 researches and of direct experiments, and his statements are confirmed by other 

 information of a later date. Gallesio states (1. c. p. 32), that during a series of 

 years he had sown the seeds of the sweet Orange ; that they never produced bit- 

 ter Oranges ; and that during a period of 60 years no instance was known to the 

 practical gardeners of the Finalais of a bitter Orange having been produced from 

 the seed of a sweet Orange-tree, or a sweet Orange having arisen from the seed 

 of a Bigaradier. In the last chapter of his book he relates how, in the severe 

 winter of 1709, all Orange- trees in Liguria were killed ; and how, to replenish 

 the gardens, nurseries were formed with the seed of the sweet Orange. The 

 trees thus raised were grafted according to old custom, but severe frost recurred 

 in subsequent years, and many of the grafts were killed. Some of the trees 

 were regrafted ; others were left alone, and these were found to produce excel- 

 lent fruit. This discovery was followed up ; and the result was, that the old 

 custom of grafting was abandoned in many parts of the Riviera. At present 

 the sweet Orange is often grafted on the bitter Orange stock, because the latter 

 is more hardy, and because grafted trees come into bearing more quickly than 

 seedlings (arbres francs) ; but as far as our knowledge goes, there seems no 

 doubt that on the Riviera, at least, the seed of the sweet Orange reproduces its 

 own kind. As far as I have been able to ascertain, the sweet Orange-trees in 

 the vast orchards of the Kasia valleys are all raised from seed without grafting. 

 On the other hand, there seems no doubt that in America the matter is often 

 different. On the island of Guadalupe the seed of the sweet Orange produces 

 bitter fruit ; and in Caracas, Naranjo agrio is the term for an austere kind, 

 often produced from the seed of sweet Oranges (Ernst, plants cultivated or 

 naturalised in the valley of Caracas, Seemann Journ. Bot. v. 272). Macfadyen, 

 in his 'Flora of Jamaica' (1837), p. 129, states that the seed of the sweet Orange 

 frequently grows up into a tree bearing the bitter fruit. It is clear, then, 

 that the question, whether the sweet and bitter Orange are specifically distinct, 

 derives no support from these facts either way, and that it must be decided on 

 other grounds. The case is similar to that of the Mango in India. In Burma, 

 and I believe also in other parts of India, the seed of certain good varieties 

 produces fruit of a similar kind without grafting ; whereas, apparently, in a 

 climate or under circumstances somewhat less favourable, ungrafted trees, as a 

 rule, bear nothing but inferior fruit, more or less stringy and turpentiny. 

 The matter is one well worthy of further research in India. As matters stand 

 at present, there does not seem sufficient ground for considering the sweet and 

 bitter Orange as distinct species. 



c. The Bergamot. C. Bergamia, Risso et Poiteau. Flowers small, very 

 sweet-scented; fruit pear-shaped or globose ; rind smooth, pale yellow ; pulp 

 acidulous, with a pleasant aroma. Not, as far as I know, cultivated in India. 

 Bergamot oil is the volatile oil of the rind. Voigt, 1. c. 142, refers to this the 

 acid Limes of India, but they certainly have more the character of C. medica. 



d. The Acid Lime of the West Indies (C. Lima, Macfadyen ; C. acidis- 



