102 Zessons in Fruit Growing, 



A — THE ORAlifGE 



132. The sweet orange is a tree 25 to 30 feet higt at 

 maturity. The fruit is prized for dessert and marmalade 

 in all countries, and the tree is extensively cultivated in 

 warm climates. 



133. The mandarin or kid-glove orange is a shrub or 

 small tree, of which the fruit is smaller and more com- 

 pressed than that of the sweet orange. The skin is readily 

 removed with the fingers, even with gloves on, hence the 

 name " kid-glove " orange. Its flavor is unlike that of the 

 sweet orange, but is relished by many. The mandarin is 

 extensively cultivated in orange regions that are free from 

 hot winds, but the fruit is less common in the northern 

 markets than the sweet orange. 



134. Cultural range. The orange is grown commercially 

 in central and southern Florida, the delta region of the 

 Mississippi river and in California. It is likely to be 

 grown in the future in parts of Texas, New Mexico and 

 Arizona. 



In central Florida, and on the Mississippi delta, the 

 orange orchards have suffered much from freezes in winter. 

 Though the trees are not often destroyed by this cause^ 

 their fruitage is rendered uncertain. The early ripening 

 of the fruit in these sections, and the fact that irrigation is 

 unnecessary, renders orange growing very profitable when 

 the orchards escape damage by frost. 



135. Fruiting habit. The orange, in common with other 

 citrous fruits, blossoms at the end of short branches from 

 the preceding season's growth. After a branch has fruited, 

 another grows out below and overreaches it, to bear fruit 

 in the future. The trees begin to bear at about 3 years of 

 age, and increase in productiveness for several years. 



