338 FORCING GARDEN. 



The ORANGE TRIBE ( Citrus) are cultivated in Britain, 

 rather as objects of curiosity and beauty than for the pur- 

 pose of affording a supply of fruit. Commerce with Por- 

 tugal, Spain, Italy, and China, has brought this class of 

 fruits within the -reach of every one , r and the copious im- 

 portations which annually take place have no doubt dis- 

 couraged the cultivation of the plants. A few orange- trees 

 are nevertheless to be met with in most collections, and in 

 large and sumptuous gardens it is not uncommon to meet 

 with glazed houses specially set apart for their reception. 



The following brief notices of some of the cultivated spe- 

 cies of the genus Citrus are derived principally from Mr. 

 G. Don's General System of Botany and Gardening, a 

 work evincing singular accuracy and unwearied research, 

 and from M. Risso's excellent paper in the Annales du 

 Museum, vol. xx. 



C. Medica, the Citron, the Cedrate of the Italians, is a 

 small evergreen tree. The fruit is large, of an oval form, 

 and covered with a rough skin or rind, which is charged 

 with a highly fragrant oil. The citron is generally used 

 in confections. It is supposed to be a native of Media y 

 and will scarcely ripen without protection in Britain. 

 Three subvarieties of citron are described by Risso. 



(7. Limetta y the Sweet Lime. This is rather a tall tree y 

 with diverging branches. The flower is of a fine white 

 color, composed of five oblong petals. The fruit is globose, 

 with a black, nipple-like protuberance at the apex ; it has 

 a firm rind, and sweet pulp, and the color is pale yellow. 

 The lime is a native of Asia, but cultivated in Italy. 

 Seven varieties have been described. 



C. Limonum, the Lemon. The petioles of the leaves 

 somewhat winged ; fruit oblong, with a thin rind adhering 

 closely to the very acid pulp. This, like the preceding, is 



