FEUITS. — VAKIETTES AXD CULTURE. 383 



feet, with a round, symmetrical head ; the bark of the 

 trunk is of an ashy-gray, while that of the twigs is green. 

 The leaves are of a fine, healthy, shining green; its blos- 

 soms are delicately fragrant, and as the tree is in all stages 

 of bearing at the same time, in flower and ripe golden 

 fruit, nothing can surpass an Orange grove in attractive- 

 ness. The wild, bitter-sweet orange is found in various 

 parts of Florida as far north as 29° ; its occurrence is said 

 to be indicative of a good soil. It may have originated 

 from the Seville orange introduced by the Spaniards. The 

 orange at this time is extensively cultivated in Florida, 

 and somewhat on the coast of Georgia and Carolina. 



Lime is essential to the healthy growth of the tree ; the 

 best soil is a deep fertile loam on the banks of rivers. 



The wild orange taken from the woods is generally 

 used as a stock to graft the most desirable varieties upon. 



The scale insect, Coccus Hisperidum, and others, prove 

 annoying to those who attempt to cultivate the orange in 

 green-houses, but can be destroyed by washing the leaves 

 and wood with a strong decoction of tobacco heated 

 nearly to boiling heat ; the warm liquid irritates the in- 

 sect, so that it looses its hold, permitting the liquid to 

 enter between it and the wood or leaf. 



There are about forty varieties of oranges cultivated, of 

 two principal classes, viz. : The Sweet or China Orange, 

 and the Bitter Seville or Wild Orange. The latter class 

 is much the more hardy, but of no value as a dessert fruit. 

 They are used in cooking, preserving, wine making, and 

 for flavoring. Of the sweet oranges, the Maltese has a 

 thick and spongy rind, red and delicious pulp, but some- 

 times with a trace of bitterness. The glands which 

 secrete the oil are prominent. 



St. Michaels. — Small, with thin, smooth rind, and 

 small glands ; pulp light colored, and of a luscious, sugary 

 taste ; often seedless. The most delicious of all oranges. 



