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producing fruit superior to that of the parent tree may be found. This 

 uncertainty in the quality of the fruit is what renders budding or graft- 

 ing desirable in this industry as in others. There is, however, by no 

 means so great a difference between the fruit of the common seedling 

 and that of the best budded varieties as occurs in certain other fruits, 

 such as the Pear and Apple. If sweet seedlings are to be grown, the 

 seeds should be taken from selected seedling trees, known to produce 

 good fruit, which are isolated from trees of other varieties and species. 

 By such selection one would avoid the probability of obtaining seeds 

 affected by crossing or hybridising with other varieties, and may be quite 

 sure that the trees from such seeds will produce good fruit. 



The various improved varieties of the sweet Orange, such as the Hart's 

 Late (Tardive), Jaffa, Majorca, Ruby, &c, cannot be depended upon to 

 reproduce true through the seed. The policy of budding the trees to 

 selected varieties cannot be too strongly recommended. 



Bitter or Sour Orange (Citrus bigaradia). 



Whether the bitter or sour Orange be classed specifically with the 

 sweet Orange, or is considered as a distinct species, the fact remains that 

 the varieties in cultivation are totally distinct in foliage, fruit, and 

 character of branching, from the sweet Orange, and that both are re- 

 produced true through the seed. The seed of sour Oranges inva- 

 riably produce sour fruit of the same general character. It is true the 

 fruit of seedlings vary slightly in shape, size, taste, thickness of rind, 

 &c, as in the case of sweet Oranges, but they are nevertheless distinct- 

 ly sour Oranges. Gallesio says, " The sour Orange produces many seeds 

 which always reproduce sour Oranges." 



The sour Orange was introduced into Florida very early, probably by 

 the Spanish, and escaping from cultivation, spread over the central and 

 southern portions of the State. When comparatively recently — about 

 1870 — interest was awakened here in the Orange industry, exteDsive 

 wild sour Orange groves were found in many places. One of these, at 

 Citra, Florida, contained seme 500 acres. These wild groves have mostly 

 been cut off and budded, so that now but few of the original trees can 

 found. I havo examined a number of these old original trees, and have 

 always found them to produce comparatively the same fruit. The fruit 

 from these eld wild trees, furthermore, does not noticeably differ, so far 

 as I have been able to determine, from the fruit of numerous cultivated 

 sour Orange seedlings, one or two of which are found in almost every 

 grove in the State. As these seedlings scattered through the groves of 

 the State are unquestionably descendants from seeds of the wild sour 

 Oranges found here, the identity of the fruit is significant in this con- 

 nection. I have made some enquiry of pioneer Orange growers who 

 cut off and budded many of the wild sour Orange trees, and have been 

 unable to learn of any marked difference having been observed in the 

 character of the fruit on different wild trees. Orange growers here in- 

 variably feel sure of obtaining sour Oranges when sour Orange seed is 

 planted. — Gardeners 1 Chronicle, 



