THE SEVILLE OEANGE. 



37 



tion of the vegetation. It seems probable that we are in- 

 debted to the Moors for their introduction into Europe. 

 Avicenna, a celebrated Moorish physician^ is the first who 

 mentions them, and speaks of the oil of oranges. The Moors 

 appear to have penetrated further into India than even Alex- 

 ander had done, and to have brought the orange from the 

 far North. It does not appear to have been known to either 

 Greeks or Eomans. 



There are many very distinct varieties of the sweet orange. 

 Risso, a French naturalist, in 1818 published a description 

 of one hundred and sixty-nine. The most remarkable va- 

 rieties we receive are the St. Michael's, the Blood Red, the 

 Maltese, and the Majorca, or seedless variety. Oranges 

 come to us from the Azores, Lisbon, Malta, and Sicily, in 

 boxes and chests; the imports in 1851 were 300,500 pack- 

 ages, weighing 35,000 tons. {Foolers Statistics,) 



The Bitter or Seville Orange. — Citrus vulgaris,— 

 This species was known in Europe long before the preceding 

 6ne. The Moors of Spain cultivated the bitter orange very 

 extensively, probably chiefly for medicinal purposes ; all 

 the old plantations which have remained of the Moors' 

 planting are of the bitter kind. They are chiefly used in 

 making marmalade, and the rind is valued for its medicinal 



