237 



and is armed with a few small thorns. A rapid grower, and an 

 early and abundant bearer ; requires a free, deep, well-drained loam, 

 and does not thrive on poor, sour, and badly-drained land. Fruit, 

 large, solid, and heavy ; skin, smooth and of very fine texture ; very 

 juicy, high flavour ; is generally seedless. Apart from the valuable 

 qualities enumerated, this variety is one of the earliest and best 

 tested of all the Travel oranges ; it is a good keeper, and well suited 

 for export. 



OTHER NAVELS have of late been brought out, some of which 

 bid fair to outrival the Washington Navel for earliness. Amongst 

 these the following sub-varieties grown at the Pomona sub-station 

 of the University of California are worth trying : 



Thompson's Improved Navel said to possess a smoother and 

 thinner skin, and a higher colour than the Washington variety. 

 It is a good bearer, the tree a strong grower, but some say it does 

 not pack and carry as well as other Navels. Its thin skin militates 

 against its being planted in localities that are frequently subject to 

 severe frost. 



Golden Nugget Navel and Golden Buckeye Navel are both sports 

 from the Washington Navel, but are as yet untried. They are 

 very early and thin skinned ; the second is said to possess a pine- 

 apple flavour ; the rind adheres so closely to the pericarp that the 

 division can be plainly seen through it after the fruit has been 

 picked a few days, giving it the appearance of a nutmeg melon. 



The Navelencia is a recent creation of the originator of 

 Thompson's Improved, who claims that it is an equal production of 

 one half Valencia and the other half Thompson's Improved Navel 

 orange. The Navelencia tree is a more upright grower than the 

 original Washington Navel. It is much later than that orange, 

 although it will not hang and retain its good qualities as long as 

 the true Valencia. 



BLOOD ORANGES. Of these there are two varieties, "Ruby, "and 

 " Maltese Blood " (which must not be confused with the Australian 

 orange of that namej. " Ruby " is the earliest and a prolific bearer. 

 It is equally good, but more uneven in shape and size than the 

 Maltese Blood. 



Maltese Blood (see Fig. 3). The pulp is streaked and 

 mottled with red. It has few seeds. Tree thornless and of dwarf 

 habit, and may be planted closer than freer growing kinds ; hardier 

 than the Washington Navel, and the tree a more generous bearer. 

 The foliage is dark and glossy. Fruit small to medium, oval, of 

 high flavour ; a good keeper and carrier. 



PARRAMATTA. A well-known New South Wales variety of 

 excellent quality. Tree large, very hardy and good regular bearer, 



