THE ORANGE AND CITRON FAMILY. 197 



of the speciae, as S. asterias, S. Plantii, S. hirsuta, S. hysfrix, 

 and S. grandiflora, are very effective when in flower, and 

 seldom fail to attract attention. Seed is freely produced by 

 healthy plants, but artificial fecundation is necessary in order 

 to induce the plants to fruit. The seeds are closely packed 

 in slender spindle-shaped capsules five or six inches in length, 

 and grow readily if sown as soon as ripe in a pan of light 

 sandy soil, placed on a gentle bottom-heat until they vegetate ; 

 after which elevate them near the glass, and water carefully, as 

 they are very apt to damp off. I am not aware that hybrids 

 have been raised in this genus, but it seems probable that this 

 might easily be done ; and the results would be very interesting. 

 The best collections in this country are at Kew ; and Mr Pea- 

 cock's collections at Sudbury House, Hammersmith, and at the 

 Alexandra Palace. It does not appear to be generally known 

 that the Brachystelmas may be grafted on Stapelias, as stocks, 

 or the weak and tender Stapelias may be worked on the more 

 permanent and vigorous kinds. The operation is best per- 

 formed in June or July, when the plants are in full growth and 

 vigour. It should be noted that the stems of Stapelia seldom 

 live longer than three or four years if allowed to bloom ; but 

 employing them as stocks, which prevents their forming bloom- 

 buds, increases their permanence. 



THE ORANGE AND CITRON FAMILY (Aurantiacea). 



A small group of fruit-bearing or ornamental trees, prin- 

 cipally natives of the East Indies, and represented in our gar- 

 dens by the Orange, Lemon, Citron, and Shaddock. Although 

 nearly all the plants in the order are tropical, the Orange and 

 Lemon have long been cultivated in South Europe, as well 

 as at St Michael's and the East Indian Islands. Limonia 

 laureola is said by Lindley to be the only plant in this group 

 which is naturally found on the tops of cold and lofty moun- 

 tains, where for several months it is covered with snow. It 

 is found on the high hills in North India ; and a nearly-allied 

 plant, L. trifoliata, is employed in China and Japan as a stock 

 for tender and choice varieties of the sweet Orange, and more 

 especially for Citrus japonica or " Kumquat," which this stock 

 renders extremely fruitful. Like all other cultivated fruits, all 

 the Orange family are extremely variable in earliness, size, col- 

 our, and flavour this being partly owing to their being propa- 

 gated from seed, and partly owing to the sudden development 

 of sports or bud variation. Good varieties are readily propa- 



