CITRUS. 248 



fruits upon them — when they make most attractive objects 

 for dinner-table decoration — or when grown into large trees 

 and laden with a profusion of their white and delicately 

 scented blossoms, and with green and ripe fruit. The use 

 to which quantities of the flowers are applied need not be 

 described, as every one knows how essential they are upon 

 certain most interesting occasions. 



To grow the plants well, and to fruit them freely, they 

 must be treated liberally. We have found the following 

 mixture suit them well : two parts good turfy loam, one 

 part of fibrous peat, and about the same quantity of sheep 

 or pigeon's manure, adding to these a . good quantity of 

 sharp sand, and lumps of charcoal ; the whole must be well 

 and thoroughly mixed togethei:. The peat and loam should 

 be chopped with a spade into moderate-sized pieces, but upon 

 no consideration should it be sifted. Orange Trees, when 

 growing, should be kept in a temperature of 60° or 65", and 

 treated to copious showers from the syringe two or three 

 times in the day ; indeed, at any time, saving when they are 

 in flower, occasional syringing is very beneficial, though it 

 must be resorted to in a less degree during the blooming 

 period than in the growing season. These plants can with- 

 stand uninjured a very low temperature, but are certainly 

 better if kept at about 48° during winter. The Citrus 

 family must have good exposure to the sun to induce them 

 to flower and fruit freely ; yet, as the leaves will become 

 yellow and sickly-looking if fully exposed, they must have 

 a certain amount of shading during the brightest part of the 

 day during summer. 



These plants require a good share of air in favourable 

 weather, and though not fond of much water, yet a suffi- 

 cient quantity must be given each time to thoroughly 

 saturate the soil. Many Orange Trees have been killed by 



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