117 
CCCLXXII.—JAFFA ORANGE. 
Of the history of this iei edm im very little is known. It is 
an egg-shaped orange, of large and a recent introduction to this 
country, where it is esteemed as a dessert ‘fruit chiefly on account of 
its siz e; colour, and uncommon ep mae | ia dpi the Jaffa orange 
varieties er oranges are grown, bat perhaps not so rod: exported as 
In a Report on the Fruits of Malta, prepared by the late DrfGulia, 
Director of the Botanie Garden (Kew Bulletin, 1888, p. 237), amongst 
ne sweet oranges grown in the island is a variety described as follows : 
GE 
* It is the most perfect of ovr oranges, and Tea ally forms a han some 
* dessert fruit. It is extensively grown for export, and sold from 4d. 
this egg-shaped orange is apparently not. known in Southern Europe, 
or at et ee is not Sigh in this important work amongst the culti- 
vated of that part of the world. In Sicily * oranges of two 
oe kidy ue described, the ‘otal and the rou-1l. The trees that bear the 
“ oval fruit are preferred . the oval oranges 
* are in demand ` commerce being | more “durable.” In the U.S. 
Consular Repo orte, N o. 411, J e 1884, pp. 760, 761, it is mentioned 
that the oranges in Syria “are distin guished by their shape and contour : 
* Belady, round flat ends, very " thick peel, hardy ; ripens late. 
* Shamonty, long, like an egg, thin-skinned ; ripens early. Bisry 
* finest flavour; a seedl €— An these, except the last, are eratted 
* npon tbe wild or bitter ora P Only one 
** variety [the Bisry] grows di vit from the seed." 
Judging by the brief E here given, the Shamonty appears 
to come nearest to the Jaffa orange as known i in this country. 
The Maltese oval orange, already regarded as probably identical with 
the egg-shaped “‘ Jaffa” orange, has beer introduced to Florida, In a 
Report on the Condition of " “Tropical and Sub-Tropical Fruits in the 
United States in 1887," U. S. Department of Ag epis Washington, 
1888, p. 66, the following particulars are given 
* Maltese Oval.—From the Mediterranean, Ego orted by General 
Sanford. Thornless, rapid grower, very prolific; fruit oval in shape 
and of a beautiful orange e colour, medium in size, and bears tr: ransportation 
unusually well. Of some 20 boxes shipped to England last winter there 
were only 10 oranges spoiled on arrival in the lot. This varie ety is a 
sees favourite in the London market. It is noe more largely 
planted in Orange County [Florida] than any other kind 
A Maltese “ oval” orange is enumerated amongst y" fruits cultivated 
in South Australia. Again, a “St. Michael's egg nge grown in 
Florida evidently approaches the * Maltese oval" in ute, It is 
described as follows: ** Large, oval; thick skinned ; aleg but not 
ich; quality fair. Tree prolific ; few thorns.” U. S. Department 
of Agic, Report l.c., 
The Jaffa orange has been la argely no ae into the United Kingdom 
duque the last 10 years, and “in colour, shape, and flavour it is a “most 
attractive frit.” Ina Foreign A Oo: Cossülar Report (1884, p. 1 ee 
it is stated that ** perhaps in no part of the world is the orange grown 
