123 



In 1898 some good varieties of the sweet orange were purchased 

 through the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, from Messrs. T. Rivers 

 and Son, Sawbridge worth. The collection included "Jaffa," 

 "Tangerine," "St. Michael's," "Egg" (St. Michael's), "Embiguo," 

 and " Maltese Blood." Messrs. Elder, Dempster & Co. conveyed 

 the plants free from Liverpool. The plants arrived in excellent 

 condition, and in 1900 they were with one exception going on 

 well. The St. Michael's fruited in 1908 (Williams, Plant List, 

 Old Calabar, J909). 



Orange plants are sold by the Botanical Department at Oloke- 

 Meji, price Id. per plant (S. Nigeria Govt. Gaz., March 21th, 1909, 

 p. 458). 



There are other well marked varieties readily distinguishable 

 by the white flowers, and oblate spherical fruits which are 

 characteristic of them all : — " Bergamot " orange (C Aurantium, 

 var. Bergamia) ; " Portuguese " orange (C. Aurantium, var. lusi- 

 tanica) ; " Blood Orange," " Maltese Blood," (C. Aurantium, 

 var. melitensis), and "Kumquat" (C. Aurantium, v&v.japonica). 



There are also many cultivated forms, chief amongst which are 

 "Jaffa," "Embiguo," "St, Michael's," "Mediterranean Sweet," 

 "Majorca," " Navel," &c. Dr. W. C. Stubbs records 83 sorts (The 

 Orange and other Citrus Fruits, p. 27), or including his list of 

 Mandarins and Tangerines {Citrus Aurantium, var. nobilis) 92. 



According to Colby (California Oranges and Lemons, p. 103) 

 the " Navel " is the largest of all oranges, although in the pro- 

 port 1 on of skin to flesh it has no advantage over either the 

 " Mediterranean Sweet " or " c>t. Michael's." The average 

 " Navel " has nearly 72 per cent, of flesh, the " Mediterranean 

 Sweet " and " Maltese Blood " 72 per cent., and " St. Michael's " 

 80 per cent. Of a number of varieties examined by him for 

 juiciness, " Navel " orange was the driest, " St. Michael's " had 

 the largest proportion of juice, followed in proportion by 

 " Mediterranean Sweet " and " Maltese Blood." 



" Tim Kom " is said to be the best orange in China ; it sells in 

 Hong Kong at 13 c. per lb. (Agric. News, Barbados, 1906, p. 100). 



" Satsuma," a seedless Japanese orange, is, according to Stubbs 

 (I.e. p. 37), the hardiest of all oranges. 



The orange is perhaps the most popular of the tropical fruits 

 that come into the markets of the United Kingdom. The sweet 

 orange as a dessert fruit, and the Seville or bitter orange for 

 making marmalade and candied peel are well-known uses. The 

 dried orange peel (Aurantii Cortex of the British Pharmacopoeia) 

 is an aromatic tonic. Following the applications for dessert, 

 preserves, and medicinal purposes, there are three essential oils 

 produced : " Bergamot Oil," obtained from the fresh green peel of 

 the Bergamot orange, "Oil of Neroli," from the fresh flowers of 

 the sweet and bitter oranges, obtained by distillation, and "Orange 

 Oil " from the fresh peel of the same, obtained by expression or 

 by the " Ecuelle " (sponge) process. The latter is remarkable in 

 possessing the highest optical rotation of all essential oils ; it 

 ranges between + 96° and + 98° at 20° C. in 100 mm. tube 

 (Schimmel & Co. Semi-Ann. Rep. October, 1896, p. 48). The 



