534 



CULTURE OF THE ORANGE. 



greenhouse subject. I do not mean to say tlie Orange should 

 be treated like common slirubs_, but it is possible^ with very- 

 little care^ to grow them in England almost as well as in 

 northern France. 



Many writers on this subject give the south exposure as 

 the best for an orangery^ and therein is the mistake. To 

 insure the success of Oranges grown in boxes or in pots^ 

 they must not in any case be allowed to grow in the 

 houses ; all their growth must be made out of doors. It 

 is a matter of fact,, that if the orangery is to the souths no 

 matter what the trouble you take to prevent their starting, 

 the plants will begin to shoot a long time before the 

 weather is mild enough to permit of their being placed in 

 the garden. A good orangery should have a northern ex- 

 posure, with plenty of windows to admit the light, and 

 every convenience to give full air when it is not frosty. 

 It will be very easy to heat the orangery in such a position, 

 as the temperature required is only two or three degrees 

 over the freezing point. It must be remembered that 

 Oranges are grown out of doors all the year round in parts 

 of France and Spain where it freezes every winter. If the 

 plants, after all the care taken to prevent their growth in 

 the houses, begin to vegetate, and if the young shoots are 

 more than an inch in length, it would be far preferable to 

 cut them back than to let them retain a growth which is 

 sure to be disfigured and spoiled in the open air. 



The watering must be very carefully done, as too much 

 water would be more pernicious than too little, and espe- 

 cially for the large plants, where the soil is in greater 

 quantity ; one or two injudicious waterings are enough to 

 kill the best established plants. Good drainage in the 

 bottom of the box or pot will prevent many accidents. In 

 the winter they want very little water. Before watering them 

 the grower should feel the leaves of the tree, and if flabby, 

 as though on the point of flagging, it is time to give them 

 water. This appUes only to the large plants, the large 

 quantity of soil employed for them keeping its moisture 

 for a long time. The small plants must be watered more 

 frequently, but stiU with great moderation in winter. During 



