CULTURE OF FRUITS AND NUTS 229 



however, there have been developed many budded and 

 grafted varieties, and the orange commonly known as the 

 navel orange. In Florida alone there are hundreds of 

 varieties. There is still shipped out to the northern markets 

 a great deal of the seedling stock, but more and more the 

 navel orange is coming to claim the best markets. The 

 Parson Brown is a very early variety, sweet and whole- 

 some. The Pineapple is somewhat later and is considered 

 by many the most delicious of southern varieties. The Flor- 

 ida Valencia is a late variety resembling the California Val- 

 encia. A considerable difference in flavor and texture exists 

 between Florida oranges and those grown in the South- 

 west owing to the fact that the former are usually grown 

 under humid conditions and the latter by irrigation. 



The lemon. The lemon tree grows very much the 

 same as the orange except that it is smaller and has a 

 lighter colored leaf. The flowers are tinged with red and 

 the fruit is of a paler yellow with a more sour and acid 

 flavor. While the oranges are used largely for breakfast 

 fruit dishes, desserts and general eating purposes, the lemon 

 is used for sirups, beverages, flavoring extracts, etc. 



The grapefruit. The grapefruit tree is also in many 

 respects like the orange. The fruit is larger and of a very 

 pale yellow color. The flesh is of a lighter texture than 

 the orange, is sour and sometimes bitter. It is used ex- 

 tensively throughout the United States, and in fact much 

 of the rest of the world as a very palatable breakfast fruit. 

 It will grow in practically all sections where the orange 

 can be produced. The grapefruit is a native of the Ma- 

 layan and Polynesian islands. It is a more hardy plant 

 than the orange, and will adapt itself more readily to the 

 local conditions. The grapefruit industry is at present 

 developing very rapidly in Florida, California and several of 

 the gulf states. 



