180 FRUIT. 



is not cultivated with success in the gardens of the wealthy, 

 where it might well fill a place among less delicious fruits, 

 which are often cultivated at much more cost than it takes to 

 grow fine crops of first-rate oranges. 



As an exhibition fruit, the ordinary produce of our hot- 

 houses has seldom been such as to recommend it for a high 

 award ; but with suitable accommodation and proper treat- 

 ment, specimens can be easily grown to rank alongside of the 

 best peaches, figs, or melons, if not to equal the grape itself. 

 The best varieties for the purpose, so far at least as the nume- 

 rous fine kinds grown abroad have been tested by cultivation in 

 Britain, are the Maltese Blood, Mandarin, St. Michael's, and 

 Tangerine Oranges. Where these varieties can be grown in 

 a properly constructed orangery — very unKke the old-fashioned 

 dungeon called an " Orangery ' — they amply repay with abun- 

 dance of luscious fruit the cost and skill bestowed on them. 

 They thrive to perfection in a rich marly turfy loam, in which 

 apples grow with the greatest success. In preference, the trees 

 should be planted in a well-drained border, made of such soil, 

 with the addition of a free sprinkling of half-inch bones. In 

 their treatment, they require much the same temperature and 

 management as the peach when forced ; but being evergreens, 

 even more care is necessary to guard against the inroads of 

 noxious insects, which are their greatest pest, and diffictilt to 

 eradicate when once they get a footing among the evergreen 

 foliage and branches. With that exception, they are much 

 easier managed than most forced fruits, and require nothing 

 but average attention to heat, air, moisture, thinning of fruit, 

 watering, and manuring. When the}' are swelling a crop of 

 fruit, they are much benefited by a judicious supply of clear 

 liquid manure. They require very little pruning or training, 

 merely sufficient to keep them in shape, with the branches 

 wide enough apart to allow a free play of light and air around 

 the ripening fruit and the blossom of the succeeding crop, 

 which are usually both upon the tree at the same time. The 

 culture of the Orange in pots is exactly similar, and with 

 liberal treatment they produce fine crops of beautiful fruit. 

 The Orange thrives be.'?t when not over-potted ; but the 



