278 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



the leaves, from a rose finely perforated on the spout of 

 the watering-pot. This must not be done until after sun^ 

 set, or it will cause the leaves to scorch. This caution will 

 apply to plants in general. Water should not be allowed 

 to remain in the saucers : it is injurious to most plants, but 

 to Orange-trees in particular. Another thing to be obr 

 served with respect to these plants is, not to put them in 

 pots or boxes too large for them. The largest size used 

 for them should not exceed twenty-four inches in diameter, 

 and much smaller will suffice for the first eight or nine 

 years. 



The Seville Orange is the most hardy, and has the 

 largest and most beautiful leaves. The China Orange 

 rarely produces good fruit in England : the varieties with 

 striped leaves never produce it good, nor do they bear so 

 many blossoms as the plain ones. 



To have Oranges in perfection, it is considered neces- 

 sary to graft the trees, even in the warm countries of which 

 they are natives : " We rode deeper into the wood, and 

 refreshed ourselves with wild Oranges (laranja da terra), 

 which have a mawkish, sweet taste. Oranges, to be good, 

 must be grafted ; even in Brazil, if suffered to grow wild, 

 the fruit is flat and rather bitter. Their flowers emitted a 

 delicious smell, and attracted a great number of humming- 

 birds." PRINCE MAXIMILIAN'S TRAVELS IN BRAZIL, page 

 76. 



In another part of his work, the same author says : 

 " The heat was intense ; we therefore refreshed ourselves 

 with cold punch and excellent Oranges, which in many 

 parts may be had gratis. This excellent fruit can be eaten 

 without injury to the health, even when a person is over- 

 heated ; but in the evening it is said not to be wholesome. 

 Much more caution is necessary in eating cocoa-nuts and 

 other cooling fruits." Page 61. 



The Brazilians are probably the only people who think 



