THE SWEET ORANGES VARIETIES. 97 



Island, who imported it from the Rivers Nurseries, Eng- 

 land. The variety is not prolific in Florida. 



Surprise. Form rounded or very slightly oblate; 

 size medium, packing 150-176 to the box, 2 15-16 x 2 15-16 

 inches, 2 3-8 x 3 inches; heavy, sinking in water leaving 

 a space the size of a silver dollar not immersed; color 

 deep orange; base rounded or very slightly flattened; ca- 

 lyx 3-8 inch across ; stem small ; apex navel-marked, navel 

 small, 1-8 to 3-8 inch across, rounded, occasionally flat- 

 tened, or protruding, as in Bahia ; 3-4 inch inside, the rind 

 of the fruit incurved; rind smooth, tough, satiny, thin, 

 1-8 inch thick, adhering closely; oil cells prominent and 

 slightly elevated above the surface; sections clearly de- 

 fined, the dividing septa thin, thirteen in number, varia- 

 ble in size; juice sacks spindle-shaped, small; flesh fine 

 grained, yellow in color; juice abundant, acidity and 

 sweetness well blended; flavor rich, vinous; quality ex- 

 cellent; seeds none; season, November-February. 



Surprise is an excellent orange, fully equal in qual- 

 ity to the best. It is juicy and heavy. Mr. E. S. Hub- 

 bard says that the variety fruits better than Hart's late, 

 even when budded on sour stock. He has fruited 

 it for three years. It must, therefore, be looked upon 

 as a decided acquisition of Florida planters. The variety 

 is distinct from the other navel oranges, though occas- 

 ional specimens resemble Bahia. No seeds have been found 

 in any of the fruits. It is unreservedly recommended for 

 trial. The bud from which this navel orange originated 

 was discovered among a lot of King mandarin orange trees 

 propagated by Mr. E. S. Hubbard, Federal Point, Fla., 

 from budwood obtained originally from California. 



