396 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



bourhood of Paris, grown as standards in the open air, but enclosed during winter with double 

 glass cases, which are removed in May, and replaced in September; the outer case being covered 

 with straw mats, for weeks together, in severe weather. When the wood of the orange tree is ri- 

 pened, and the sap is set to rest by withholding water, it may be kept in the dark, for two or three 

 months together, without injury, provided the air be kept dry. The hardiest kind of orange appears 

 to be the Seville, or bitter, orange, (fig. 104.) Mr. Spence, who passed some winters in Florence, states 

 {Gard. Mag., vol. vii. p. 308.) that the bitter orange is by far the most hardy variety grown in Italy ; 

 and that, in the neighbourhood of Florence, where the cold is so great that skating is sometimes 

 practised occasionally during four months of the year, and where, in the winter of 1829-30, the ther- 

 mometer was repeatedly down to 26° and 2+° Fahr. at 8 a. m., there are standards in the open air, 

 in sheltered situations, but not planted near a wall, with stems from 4 in. to 6 in. in diameter, which 

 pass the most severe winters with no other injury than having the points of the last year's shoots 

 turned a little yellow. The bitter orange is in general use among the Italians, as a stock for grafting 

 all the other sorts on ; another proof that it is one of the hardiest and most vigorous-growing sorts. 

 When a trial is to be made in England, we would recommend commencing with this variety ; and 

 protecting the ground by litter, and both sides of the wall by mats or boards, for several years, till 

 the plants were ful'y established. The simple protection of straw mats, placed over the trees, might, 

 probably, be found enough afterwards, at least iir favourable situations. The walls should always be 

 flued, or hollow, in order to afford the opportunity of lighting a fire occasionally. The north side of 

 the wall might be kept warm by ivy ; or, if it were an east and west wall, it might be clothed with 

 half-hardy trees on both sides, and protected accordingly. 



As examples of different species of the genus Citrus which have attained large dimensions in the 

 open air in England, we cite the following from different places in Devonshire. At Salcombe, near 

 Kingsbridge, in the garden of the Rev. Mr. Henshaw, are two walls covered with fine healthy orange 

 trees : one wall has a broad coping, and glass shapes for placing before the trees in severe winters ; 

 the other has reed hurdles for the same purpose, and, though this sometimes excludes the light for 

 three months, it is considered a better protection than the glass. The kinds are, the common, Se- 

 ville, and blood-red orange, and the citron, lemon, lime, and shaddock. At Dartmouth, in the 

 garden of Mr. Strong, is a very large citron tree. At Luscombe, the seat of C. Hoare, Esq., there 

 are some remarkable large trees of citrons, shaddocks, and limes, which grow so vigorously, that they 

 make shoots of from 6 ft. to 7 ft. in length in one year. They were raised from cuttings on the spot ; 

 and, the third year after being planted out, they produced a number of fine fruit, some of the lemons 

 measuring from 15 in. to 18 in. in circumference, and weighing 14 oz. (See Gard. Mag., vol. ii. p. 29.) 

 At Kitley, the seat of E. P. Bastard, Esq., there is a remarkably hardy variety of the shaddock, 

 raised on the spot, and known as the Kitley shaddock, which is much hardier than most other sorts 

 of Citrus. At Coombe Royal, the seat of John Luscombe, Esq., are a number of lime, citron, orange, 

 and lemon trees, of which a description will be found in the Gard. Mag., vol. x. p. 36. The trees 

 are planted against a south wall, which is divided by buttresses, forming recesses in which the trees 

 are trained in the manner of common fruit trees. Each recess is 12± ft. wide, and about the same 

 in height; and is protected, during the winter, by a frame of wood, which is wholly removed in the 

 summer, and partially by day, at other seasons ; the trees only requiring to be guarded from severe 

 frost. A more interesting sight cannot well be imagined by the lovers of horticulture, than that 

 which is presented by these trees on a sunny day in winter, when the open frames furnish a display 

 of the richest foliage, and of fruit rivalling the produce of foreign countries. The soil, which is 

 seldom manured, is light and rich, on a slaty substratum, and seems admirably adapted to trees of 

 the citron tribe. The situation in which they are grown is in a sheltered valley, protected from wind. 

 It is necessary to add, that the lime is grown under glass in winter ; but it is believed that the tree 

 would thrive equally well under wood, and be more secure from frost and storms ; a fine tree, in 

 full bearing, having been destroyed, a few years since, by the accidental breaking of a pane or two of 

 glass in winter. The fruit is produced abundantly by the citron, oranges, and lemons ; by the lime 

 more sparingly, from the tree being young, and in a vigorous growing state ; and, when gathered at 

 a proper period, the fruit is of a fine flavour, and full of juice. Citrons are every year ripened mea- 

 suring from 15 in. to 18 in. in circumference ; lemons, 11 in. by 9 in. ; and oranges, 10 in. by 9 in. ; 

 weighing from 5 oz. to 9 oz. The leaves are generally 11 in. long, and 6 in. or 7 in. wide. (See Gard. 

 Mag., vol. x. p. 36.) 



The genus Limdnia (fromlymoun, the Arabic name of the citron, Latinised) is not very well known ; 

 but it includes thirteen or fourteen species, all of which bear more or less affinity to the genus Citrus. 

 The species likely to prove hardy or half-hardy are the following, L. Laureola Dec, a native of Ne- 

 pal, with leaves like those of .Daphne Laurfeola, and white flowers, and which is found on the top 

 of cold and lofty mountains, where it is, for some months in the year, buried under the snow. The 

 leaves are highly fragrant; and are, like others of a similar kind, Mr. Royle informs us, employed 

 in the religious ceremonies of the inhabitants of the hills. There can be no doubt of this species of 

 JAmbnia being perfectly hardy. — L. cttrifblia Willd. is a native of China, and has white flowers and 

 red berries, with simple or trifoliate leaves. — L. parviflbra Bot. Mag., t. 2416., has impari-pinnate 

 leaves, and white flowers. It is a native of China, and; grows to the height of 6 ft. — L. ambigua 

 Dec. is said to be cultivated in East Florida; but very little is known of this and the preceding 

 species. — L. australis is a native of New Holland, where it forms a tree 25 ft. high ; and there is a 

 plant of it at Kew, introduced in 1830. There are four other species of this genus in our stoves and 

 green-houses ; but L. Laureola remains to be introduced by Mr. Royle, or some other patriotic indi- 

 vidual. 



CHAP. XXI. 



OF THE HARDY AND HALF-HARDY LIGNEOUS PLANTS OF THE ORDER 

 //YI'ERICA'cETE, AND TRIBE HYPERl'CEiE. 



Distinctive Characteristics. Thalamiflorous. (//. 7?.) Sepals4 or 5, unequal, 

 with an imbricate aestivation. Stamens, in nearly all, numerous, and in H 



