THE ORAN-GE IN CALIFORNIA — VARIETIES. 



49 



THE OEAi^GE. 



THE SWEET ORANGE. 



Citrus iiurantium dulces, Linn. 



The sweet onmge belongs to the natural order Axirnntianv, 

 and the origin of the different members of this citrus family 

 is extremely doubtful, having been cultivated from a remote 

 period of antiquity, but is supposed to belong originally to 



A. Compound unifoliate leaf of the orange (C'ti- 

 rus aarantiu/i'). 1. Point of union, marked by an 

 articulation: 2. Petiole, winged on both sides 

 3. Lamina: i. Y\o\veTini^ branch ot Cltrt/s bitjaradia. 

 'i and 6. The fruit: 7. Flower.complete: S. Pistil 

 9. Transverse section of ovary. (After Haldane.),a 



China and India, and was not taken to 



Europe until centuries after the Christian 



era. Its cultivation has been confined to 



the countries adjacent to the Mediterranean, 



for only there is the climate suitable for its 



best development. Seedling trees under 



favorable conditions have lived for centuries. At the convent 



of St. Sabina, at Rome, there is a tree .32 feet high which is 



4c 



