14 Oranges and Lemons of India. 



conditions, or the environment of the two distinct 

 seasons of Northern India. As I said the flowers of 

 form a, pi. 27, come out in March, and their fruit 

 develops in the hottest and driest part of the year.- 

 They are the main crop of the tree. While the 

 flowers of form b come out in June, when the rains 

 commence, and their fruit develops in the hottest and 

 moistest part of the year. They are the second, or 

 Dumrez crop of the tree. 



All citrus trees in India give a second crop when 

 the commencement of the rainy season gives a fresh 

 start of vigour to the trees, and the two crops differ in 

 form and characters more or less ; but I have never 

 noticed such a difference as is shown in the case of the 

 khatta. Whether form b could be perpetuated and 

 fixed by selection is more than I can say. (Vide 

 Appendix, No. 65.) 



If, therefore, a simple change of season with change 

 of hygrometric conditions of the atmosphere and soil, 

 (as well as any possible change of electric influence) is 

 capable of producing such very distinct forms of citrus 

 in the same tree, and in the same locality, one can 

 without much difficulty, conceive that a total change 

 of climate, soil, and environment, might effect still 

 greater changes, without any influence from hybridism, 

 and without the necessity of origin from a distinct 

 species. For instance, if a variety of citrus raised from 

 seed in South Europe were transported to the islands 

 of the Malay archipelago, or to the Tarai at the foot 

 of the Himalayas in India, and there further genera- 

 tions raised from its seeds (the latter inevitably 

 partaking of the effects of any influences caused by 

 change of climate and soil) one can readily imagine 

 that great variations would be possible. These then 

 might be eventually perpetuated, and fixed by selection 



