NEW PHILIPPINE ESSENTIAL OILS. 34? 



Tomas of younger ones. Tanauan also is the larger in population, but Santo 

 Tomas is increasing more rapidly. 



Five kinds of oranges are recognized in the local trade, not at all of equal 

 importance. Much the most numerous is that kno-\vn as naranjita, or less 

 often sintones, of which Santo Tomas is estimated to have about 125,000 trees. 

 It is Citrus reticulata Blanco, which has been considered a synonym of Citrus 

 aurantium Linn., the common orange, but the fruit is too loose-skinned for 

 this reduction to be correct. The tree begins to flower in January or February, 

 but the real season is in May and June, fruiting continuing from September 

 to Februaiy, but being most copious in the earlier half of this period. The 

 trees are prolific, bearing up to 6,000 oranges, or more than they are able to 

 sustain. The fruit is shipped in large baskets, holding 600 to 700 oranges 

 each, and has a ready sale not only in Manila, but in all of the provinces easy 

 of access. 



Next in number is the cajel, a larger orange with a tighter skin, having 

 approximately the same flowering and fruiting season as the naranjita. It is 

 Citrus aurantium Blanco, and perhaps the Linnaean species of that name, but 

 is not quite the same as any of the American varieties of that species. It has 

 a similar, but less extended sale than the naranjita. 



In Batangas, Citrus decumana Murr., usually known there as naranja, is third 

 in importance. In other districts of the Philippines, its relative position is 

 higher, and the more common names are luchan and suja. It is cultivated in 

 many places, but is held in less esteem than naranjita, although it is often to be 

 found on sale in Manila and elsewhere. Almost exactly similar fruit is imported 

 from China. The fruits are much the largest of those of any of our species of 

 Citrus. 



The two remaining cultivated oranges are the calainansi and the tison. The 

 former is more acid than any of the others, and is little used except as a substitute 

 for lemons. The latter, from description, more nearly resembles some of the 

 American varieties of orange than do any others grown in the Philippines. It 

 probably is Citrus papillaris Blanco. 



In addition, the wild-orange, Citrus hystrix DC, called oabuyao, is found in 

 Batangas. It has no commercial value, but might be suitable for grafting. 



There are also two kinds of lemons, known locally as Union and limoncito. 



Therefore, practically the trade may be considered to be confined to two kinds 

 of oranges, naranjita and cajel, in the order named. The former is not only the 

 more numerous, but its cultivation is very rapidly increasing. It is of slower 

 growth than the cajel, the latter requiring about 3 years from planting to 

 fruiting, the former about 5. 



It will shortly be possible to give accurate statements of the botanical posi- 

 tion of all these species. 



Fine, large lemons, grown from the seed of Italian lemons, are raised 

 in one or two localities in the mountains of northern Luzon but, so far, 

 no attempt at extensive cultivation has been made. Therefore, true 

 lemon oil can not be produced in the Philippines at the present time, or 

 in the immediate future. 



Orange-peel oil can be prepared from the two varieties, naranjita and 

 cajel. The peel of the former contains much more oil than the latter, 

 and also probably more than the average California orange. The yield 

 is greater when the peels are green than when they are fully ripe. 



