GEEEN-HOUSE PLANTS. 



367 



moved from the roots, which are sxire to he found in 

 a had condition. These are then carefully pruned, 

 and fresh soil placed around them. Notwithstand- 

 ing the paucity of kinds to he found in English 

 gardens, great attention is paid to them in St. 

 ]\lichael's, where upwards of a hundred different 

 kinds of Oranges are to he found." 



The Orange as an ornamental tree in our green- 

 houses has heen of late years much neglected, hut it 

 is curious to note that, although Orange-blossom has 

 lost none of its charms or attractions for the fair 

 sex of these realms, the 

 plant has lost favour with 

 cultivators, and conse- 

 quently we have to import 

 it in most instances for 

 hridal festivities, which is 

 certainly a disgrace to Eng- 

 lish horticulturists. 



In the olden times of 

 English gardening, an 

 Orangery was considered 

 indispensable; and, although 

 the structures then used 

 were quite the reverse of 

 those used in the present 

 times, plenty of fine trees 

 existed in England. The 

 finest collection of Orange- 

 trees we have seen is that 

 in the Gardens of the Eoyal 

 Palace of Sans Souci, near 

 Potsdam in Prussia, where 

 they are accommodated in a 

 noble house, about a thou- 

 sand feet in length, forty- 

 five feet broad, and about 

 twenty - five feet high. 

 These are cultivated in tubs, 



and during the summer months are all brought out 

 upon the terraces in front of the Palace, where they 

 produce a wonderful effect, and the air is quite laden 

 ^-ith the exquisite perfume of their blossoms. Some 

 very fine trees at Holland House, Kensington, have 

 for many years been treated in the same manner 

 M'ith the best results. 



As before remarked. Orange-trees will thrive in 

 even poor soil, but they prefer generous treatment, 

 and the compost best suited for their healthy develop- 

 ment is a mixture of rich loam, leaf-mould, peat, 

 and manure, in equal parts. The manm-e shoidd be 

 old, and obtained from cows, sheep, and fowls. This, 

 being in a nice friable condition, should be well 

 mixed, adding some sharp sand. It should be used 

 in a tolerably rough state, as these trees thrive best 

 in open porous scil ; thorough drainage is indispens- 



ClTEUS Medica, 



able. The whole of the Citrus family enjoy a liberal 

 supply of water when growing, and when given it 

 must be in such quantities as to penetrate the soil 

 thoroughly, yet before another watering the soil 

 should show signs of becoming dry. They enjoy 

 occasionally applications of liquid manure, or mulch- 

 ings of old cow-manure when in full growth \\ill be- 

 found very beneficial. 



Although Oranges like an abundance of light, full 

 exposure to the sun under glass is apt to bum the 

 young leaves or turn them yeUow, which is very 

 detrimental to their appear- 

 ance, therefore some little 

 shading will be found ad- 

 vantageous during the hot- 

 test part of the day. 



The fruits of the several 

 varieties are largely im- 

 ported for the dessert-table 

 and various economic pui'- 

 poses, and of late years a 

 considerable quantity of the 

 yoimg stems have been, 

 brought to this country for 

 walking-sticks. 



C. Aicmntium (the Sweet 

 Orange). — A bold-growing, 

 handsome tree ; leaves 

 winged, broadly oblong, and 

 shining green. Under cul- 

 tivation it produces im- 

 mense crops of golden fruit, 

 which are too well known 

 to need description. The 

 flowers are white and 

 deliciously fragrant, largely 

 used for decorations in 

 bridal festi^dties. Like all 

 plants that have been 

 long under cultivatioji, the Sweet Orange has pro- 

 duced many varieties, one of which is kno^Ti as 

 the Malta, or Blood Orange, the fruits of which are 

 rather small, and the pulp is deep red or blood-colour 

 throughout. The ^Mandarin is another variety^ 

 which fruits in quite a small state. Leaves ovate and 

 bright green. The fruits are small, deep orange- 

 colom-, the rind is thin, and the pulp is very sweet. 

 It is called the Noble or Mandaiin Orange in China, 

 and is largely grown in the Azores. The Sweet- 

 skinned Orange is another very distinct variety. It 

 has a small rich yellow fruit, the rind being soft and 

 very sweet. In the French shops this is sold under the 

 name of Pomme d'Adam, and called the " Forbidden 

 Fruit," but it is quite different to the fruit sold 

 in London under that name. Tlie fruits of the 

 Sweet Grange are largely imported from Lisbon, 



