244 GREENHOUSE PLANTS. 



the OBly partial wetting of the mass of earth about their 

 roots. When in full vigour they will be greatly benefited 

 by occasional mulchings with well-decomposed manure. 

 Though these plants will make pretty objects when mixed 

 with others, yet, to grow them well and produce a large crop 

 of fruit, a house must be devoted to their special culture. 

 Such a house would form one of the most agreeable features 

 in any garden. The trees should be planted out as recom- 

 mended for Camellias. The insects with which these plants 

 become infested are the Coccus hesperidum, a kind of scale 

 insect, which must be washed off with warm soft soap and 

 water ; the green sphis, which can be easily destroyed with 

 fumigating, without any injury to the plants ; and the red 

 spider [Acarus tellarius), which, however, will not make its 

 appearance if sufficient moisture is kept in the atmosphere. 



C. aurantiacum. — This is the sweet orange, the fruit of 

 which is so largely imported into this country for the 

 dessert. The leaves of this species are somewhat ovate or 

 oblong, rich shining green in colour ; it forms a large tree, 

 and when laden with either flowers or fruits is a glorious 

 sight. It and its varieties, which are very numerous, are 

 largely grown in the south of Europe, although it originally 

 belongs to Asia. 



C. auraiitiacum, var. {ILiiltese Orange). — In appearance 

 differing little from the preceding ; the fruit is globose, 

 golden yellow, the pulp deep blood red. 



C. decmnnna {The Shaddock). — A very strong-growing 

 plant, with spiny branches, and large, blunt, ovate leaves, 

 clothed with a tomentum on the under side, deep green 

 above ; leaf-stalks with broad wings ; fruit very large, round, 

 pale yellow ; the pulp is acid, and though not eaten at the 

 dessert, it forms a beautiful ornament to the table. It is 

 cultivated in the West Indies, but is a native of China. 



