FRUIT. 179 



sweet, juicy, and melting, with a rich, luscious flavour, a pleas- 

 ing aroma, and a thin skin. 



THE XECTAEINE. 



This is a very distinct and beautifully coloured section of 

 the Peach tribe, Amygdalus persica, the piquantly refreshing, 

 rich juicy flesh of which is preferred by some palates to that 

 of the more luscious typical section. As an exhibition fruit, 

 the Nectarine ranks next after the Peach. For that purpose 

 the following are among the best, arranged in the order in 

 which they usually ripen : — Lord Napier, Elruge, Pitmaston 

 Orange, Pine- Apple, Humboldt, and Spencer. The cultivation 

 of the Nectarine is the same in all respects as that of the 

 Peach, for details of which see the article on that fruit. 



The points of merit in a dish of Nectarines are : (1.) The 

 fruits should be large, equal in size, smooth, and symmetrical ; 

 (2.) ripe and sound, with a rich juicy flesh of a brisk vinous 

 flavour, and parting freely from the stone, which should be 

 small ; and (3.) the colour should be bright and fresh, dark red 

 next the sun, and orange or yellowish green in the shade. 



THE OEAA^GE. 

 There are several species of the genus Citrus cultivated as 

 oranges, the origin of which is lost in antiquity; but from the 

 earliest ages of which there is any record, they appear to 

 have been grown and used as food by the natives of Eastern 

 countries from Asia 3Iinor to Japan. At the present time it 

 it is extensively cultivated for commercial purposes in the 

 southern countries of Europe, the Madeira Islands, Florida, 

 and Southern California, besides many other places of less 

 fame as orange-growing centres. Its cultivation in this 

 country as a dessert fruit has never attained any amount of 

 popularity, or received anything like the attention from horti- 

 culturists which its excellence under proper treatment deserves. 

 To any one who has tasted the delicious richness of flavour of 

 a perfectly ripe and full-grown orange, fresh gathered from 

 the tree, grown in a suitable hothouse, it is a marvel in those 

 days of cheap glass and advanced cultural skill why the Orange 



