2O2 Oranges and Lemons of India. 



Now supposing a large variety, in all grades of 

 development, of citrus fruit undergoing changes from 

 seed by breaks, the bird might cut open one and be 

 disappointed perhaps in finding nothing in it. It 

 would break open the fruit of another tree, and so 

 on, in search of something to carry to its hungry 

 young in the nest. If by accident it came across a 

 tree which was a break in the direction of some 

 sweet, or even sour pulp, having seeds at the same 

 time, it would carry the pulp to its young, and return 

 again and again to that same tree. It would thus 

 help to disseminate the seed of this improved variety, 

 exactly as a horticulturist now does.* The seed is 

 bitter and not nice to eat, and parrots in cages are 

 often seen sifting the seeds of fruits with their beak 

 and dropping them. Thus the seeds of the better and 

 sweeter varieties would have a great advantage, by 

 wide dissemination, and many chances of being 

 dropped in rich suitable soils for further variation. 

 Many varieties of citrus live very long ; and we have 

 been told that in South America it is proof against 

 drought and locusts. We also know it to be prolific. 

 Therefore any good and palatable variety, having 

 become known to all the parrots of the neighbour- 

 hood, would be visited, year after year, and infinite 

 chances would be given it for the seeds to repeat 

 other and better breaks. 



In its seed the citrus fruit contains a very favour- 

 able condition for future progress ; and therefore it is 

 important that the fruit should not be advertised, by 

 changing its green colour, until the seed was perfect 

 and sufficiently ripe for dissemination. 



Further, the Citrus seed has two or more germs 



* The selection of the sweet varieties, which may have turned up 

 from seeds of sour ones, was probably done mainly by man. 



