1 



the first season without restriction, except in the case of laterals which should be kept pinched back to 

 one leaf. 



4. If intended to be trained on trellis the growth of a pair of laterals near the ground may be al- 

 lowed; but cutting back the first season's growth to within ten or twelve inches irom the surface is 

 the better plan. 



5. The eye when first planted should be just beneath the surface and the soil pressed firmly about 

 it. This is essential. 



C. — ORANGE SEEDLINGS. 



A prevalent opinion in Jamaica is that the seed of the Sweet Orange produces indifferently Sweet, 

 or Bitter Orange Trees, Citron, Lemon, or Shaddock Trees. Macfadyen, a very careful botanist, writing 

 in 1837, after a residence of more than 12 years in the island, states in his Flora of Jamaica 

 that e: It is a well established fact, familiar to every one who has been any length of time in this Island, 

 that the seed of the Sweet Orange very frequently grows up into a tree bearing the bitter fruit, numer- 

 ous well attested instances of which have come to my own knowledge. I am not however aware, that 

 the seed of the Bitter Orange has ever grown up into the sweet-fruited variety. These two varieties of 

 Orange would therefore appear to bear the same relation to each other, as subsists between the Apple 

 and the Crab. The Crab is considered to be the original stock of the Apple, and its seed always produces 

 a small acerb fruit, whereas although the seed of any of the approved kinds of Apple, such as the golden 

 pippin, may occasionally grow up into a tree producing an esteemed variety of fruit, not inferior per- 

 haps to that of the parent tiee, yet in infinitely the greater number of instances it will be small and 

 acerb, and in other words a Crab. We may therefore conclude that the Bitter Orange was the original 

 stock, and that, to certain accidental circumstances, such as the soil and climate being peculiarly favour- 

 able, and to cultivation, we are to ascribe the production of the Sweet." 



Duchassaing confirms Macfayden, stating that in Guadeloupe the seeds of Sweet Oranges often pro- 

 duce bitter fruit. 



On the other hand, Dr. Ernst, in charge of the Botanic Garden at Caraccas, says that Sweet 

 Orange seed may give acid, but never bitter, fruit. Sir D. Brandis, late Inspector General of Forests 

 in India, states that, as far as he has been able to ascertain, the very extensive orchards of Sweet Orange 

 trees in Khasia have all originated from seed. Gallesio, an Italian, who devoted almost his whole life- 

 time to the subject, published in 1811 his Traite t>v Citrus, in which he is most emphatic that both 

 bitter and sweet kinds can be propagated by seed with absolute certainty. He says, "I have for a 

 long period of years sown the pips of the Sweet Orange, taken sometimes from seedling Orange trees, 

 sometimes from grafts on the Bitter Orange or on the Lemon I have always had trees with sweet 

 fruit. This result is the experience for more than 60 years of all the gardeners of the district of 

 Finale. There is not one example of a Bitter Orange tree produced by the seeds of the Sweet Orange, 

 nor of an Orange tree with sweet fruit produced by the seeds of the Bitter Orange. In 1709, frost hav- 

 ing killed the orange trees of Finale the practice arose of raising the trees from seed ; there was not 

 a single one of these plants which did not produce fruit with sweet juice." He adds that the Orange tree 

 having been propagated in Italy for many centuries exclusively by means of grafting, it caused no lit- 

 tle surprise to the inhabitants to find that the fruit from seedlings was sweet, and moreover that the 

 trees thus raised were larger, more productive, and hardier than the former kinds. 



The evidence goes to show that Macfadyen's experience was exceptional in finding that the seeds 

 of the Sweet Orange sometimes produce trees with bitter fruit ; and there is no evidence whatever 

 that there is any foundation for the popular opinion mentioned above. In fact, if it were true, it 

 would upset the conclusions arrived at by Sir J. D. Hooker, who has studied the Orange tribe in India. 

 He maintains, in the Flora of British India, that while the Sweet, the Bitter and theBergamotte Orange 

 are varieties of the same species, the Citron, Lemon and Lime are varieties of a quite distinct species, 

 and the Shaddock is again another species of the genus Citrus. Now, though it frequently happens in 

 nature that different varieties are produced from seed, it has never been known to occur that the seed 

 of one species gave rise directly to a distinct species. This would out-darwin Darwin. Nevertheless, 

 there is an element of truth in this, as in most other widespread popular beliefs, and it is to be found in 

 the fact of hybridization frequently taking place through the agency of insects. The pollen is carried 

 from the flower of a Shaddock to a Sweet Orange tree, and the result would probably be a fruit, par- 

 taking of the nature of the Shaddock and the Orange. If the different varieties and species of Citrus 

 were all growing together, it might happen that the same tree would produce fruit more or less like 

 the different kinds. On the other hand, it is not probable that many seeds of these hybrid fruits would 

 be fertile : this is a point worthy of experiment. Even so, the seed would not produce a true Sweet 

 Orange or Shaddock tree but a tree partaking of the character of both. 



The danger, in planting seedlings of the Sweet Orange, appears to be small. — they will only ex- 

 ceptionally produce hybrid trees. Great care, however, should be taken to keep the different varieties 

 and species of these trees as far apart as possible; and if the object is to cultivate Sweet Oranges only, 

 it is advisable to cut down all other varieties, and in fact gradually to exterminate from the plantation 

 all inferior kinds even of the sweet Orange. 



The seedlings distributed by the Botanical Department are raised from seed obtained from Messrs. 

 Wray and Nephew, through the kindness of Mr. Hoi well. The Oranges are used in the manufacture 

 of Orange Wine, and great care is exercised to obtain only the very sweetest Oranges, in order to pro- 

 duce Wine of the finest quality. This is the best guarantee therefore that the fruit has not been hybri- 

 dized, and that the seed will come true. The Botanical Department is indebted to the Firm for being 

 able to propagate a large quantity of seedlings of the best kind. 



