CHAPTER XV. 



Culture of the Orange (by M. Hippolyte y amain) Oleander 

 Culture (by M. Chatifils). 



[M. Jamain of Paris is probably the largest and most successful 

 grower of the Orange Tree in any northern climate ; and I have 

 much pleasure in offering the following article by his son, convinced 

 that the system described is the sound one for England. \V. R.] 



HE Orange is propagated by grafting on the stock raised 

 from seeds of Citrus Medica (the Common Lemon), or 

 from those raised from seeds of the Common Bitter 

 Orange. For the trade, plants grafted on the lemon stock are the 

 most suitable, the lemon growing more vigorously than the wild 

 orange tree $ but to secure the plant long life, the latter is the most 

 preferable. The reason of this will be easily understood ; the diffe- 

 rence between the lemon and orange trees is much the same as 

 between the quince and wild pear trees : like the quince, the lemon 

 makes all its roots at the surface of the soil, the wild orange goes 

 deeper, and consequently the tree is better able to resist the wind 

 and the vicissitudes of the season j naturally there is more analogy 

 between the two woods, and the result of experiments is that the 

 plants live much longer. An orange tree grafted on the lemon may 

 live about a hundred years ; after that time it decays and perishes j 

 an orange grafted on its wild congener may live over 300 years 

 witness the Grand Bourbon in the Orangery at Versailles, near Paris, 

 which tree is now more than 400 years old, and is grafted on 



