204 BERGAMOT. MALTA ORANGES. 



houses in England ; but they are generally much 

 smaller with us than in their native country, the 

 warmer parts of Asia, where they grow to the 

 height of twelve or fifteen feet. From one of the 

 varieties of orange tree, the perfume called berga- 

 mot is obtained : it is said to have derived its 

 name from Bergamo in Italy. Although the 

 oranges produced in Malta, which is not far from 

 Italy, are now the most esteemed in Europe, the 

 fruit was unknown to the ancient Greeks or Ro- 

 mans. Orange trees sometimes live to a great age. 

 I have seen one in the gardens of Versailles, near 

 Paris, said to be more than four hundred years 

 old. 



