CHAP. II. DESSERT FRUITS. 219 



induces many to partake of it, and those who do so usually 

 become remarkably fond of it. It is in season principally during 

 the months of January and February. 



The tree may be propagated either by layers or by seed. I 

 am not aware that any trouble is ever taken to improve it by 

 cultivation. 



Citrus Aurantium. 



ORANGE. 



Kumla neeboo. 

 Narungee Sungtura. 



The Orange is a native of India, and grows in nearly all parts 

 of the country except in Lower Bengal, within a region about one 

 or two hundred miles from Calcutta. Even as high as Purneah, 

 I understand, though the tree bears fruit, it never ripens it. 



In Europe the varieties of Orange are numerous, but in India 

 there do not appear to be more than three or four varieties in 

 ordinary cultivation. 



1. The SYLHET ORANGE : a round, plump, thin-skinned fruit, 

 answering very much to the description of that so common in 

 England, and known as the China Orange. This fruit is brought 

 down during the cold months in great abundance to the Calcutta 

 market from Sylhet, to the hills in which locality its growth 

 seems in a great measure confined. 



2. An ill-shapen fruit, with a thick, deep-coloured rind, much 

 larger than the pulp can fill out, in this respect resembling the 

 Mandarin Orange as well as in its scent and flavour, but differ- 

 ing from it in form, and in being of nearly four times the size. 

 This is the variety cultivated almost exclusively in the Upper 

 Provinces and in the Deccan of India. 



3. A small Orange, not larger than a Plum, and bearing to 

 other kinds much about the same relation that a Crab does to 

 an Apple. The tree, however, in full bearing is a very pretty 

 object, and the fruit, though fit for little else, makes an excellent 

 preserve. 



4. A kind much resembling the Sweet Lime ; an insipid and 

 worthless fruit. 



The SEVILLE ORANGE: C. vulgaris. Mr. W. Stalkart has 

 this variety in his garden at Gooseree, where he tells me it bears 



