51 



Some are large and light bearers, while others are small and heavy 

 bearers. 



Many varieties differ greatly in color, from the pale orange, to a 

 reddish orange and even to blood color. It would be well for those 

 who intend planting budded trees, or propose budding trees now grow- 

 ing, to select the most excellent kind, whether they have yet been hon- 

 ored with a name or not, as it is the quality of the fruit and not the 

 name which is needed. The name and classfication will come in time. 

 Any new and remarkably good varieties ought also to be brought to the 

 notice of the state committee, above named, on nomenclature. These 

 gentlemen will do their duty, and Florida will be compelled to have 

 her own nomenclature, as she has her own varieties. 



The orange of Portugal and the China orange, are two well known 

 varieties in Europe and are frequently seen in Florida, but have 

 changed somewhat by having been reproduced from seed. 



The orange of Portugal, or common sweet orange, is a tree growing 

 to a great height when raised from seed. Its leaf is green, having a 

 winged petiole, its shoots are whitish, its flowers entirely white and very 

 odorous, though not equal in perfume to those of the bigarade. 



Its fruit ordinarily round, is sometimes flattened, sometimes a little 

 oblong. The rind, less than an eighth of an inch in thickness, is of a 

 reddish yellow, and full of aroma ; the inner skin is a sallow white, 

 spongy and light. The sections, nine to eleven in number, contain a 

 sweet juice, very refreshing and agreeable; its seeds are white and 

 oblong, germinating very easily and reproducing usually the species 

 with little change. There is a variety with no thorns; it is the race 

 cultivated mostly by grafting, and is seen in all countries where this 

 method of propagation is followed. In places w r here the orange is 

 grown from seed, it is rare to find it deprived of thorns. 



The China Orange is a variety excelling all others in the perfection 

 of its fruit, of which the juice is the sweetest, the most abundant, and 

 the most perfumed. The skin is always smooth, glossy, and so thin that 

 one can scarce detach it from the pulp. This is characteristic of this 

 variety. 



The Red-Fruited Orange is a singular variety. Its appearance, its 

 leaf, its flower, are all exactly like the common orange. Its fruit alone 

 is, distinguished by a color of blood, which develops itself gradually 

 and like flakes. When the fruit begins to ripen it is like other oranges; 

 little by little, spots of blood-color appear in its pulp ; as it advances to 

 maturity, these enlarge, becoming deeper, and finally embrace all the 

 pulp and spread to the skin, which is, however, but rarely covered by 



