lOIG THE TRACTICAT GARDENER. [Feb, 



ches in circumference at tlie trunk or stem ; and that they 

 covered above one liundred square feet of wall. These trees, 

 after having stood in the open air for a great many years, were 

 killed at last by the severe frosts in 1739-40. As the cultiva 

 tion of the orange, and its associates the lemon, citron, lime 

 &c., is probably less understood generally than any othei 

 exotic fruit-bearing tree in our gardens, we will here dcviati 

 somewhat from the general plan of this work, and detail tlu 

 practical observations of several of the most successful cultiva 

 tors of this fine family, together with that of our own practice 

 in this place, instead of dividing these observations in .thei 

 monthly order. 



Oranges, like most all other fruit-bearing plants, are pro- 

 pagated from seeds, which ripen perfectly with us, as well as 

 from the seeds of imported fruit. Varieties are thus produced ; 

 but as it is seldom the object of the British cultivator to origi- 

 nate new or improved varieties of this tribe, the young plants 

 so produced are most generally intended and used for stocks, 

 on which to bud, inarch, or graft approved varieties, which 

 have been already cultivated. The sc-eds may be sown at any 

 period of the year when they may happen to be procured, or 

 they may be kept for several months widi little difference as to 

 the ultimate success. From the beginning of February to the 

 end of September, however, may be considered the most eligi- 

 ble season for this purpose. As it is a principal object to have 

 strong stocks, a preference is generally given to the most 

 robust growing kinds; and we find Miller, one o'f the earliest 

 cultivators of this tribe, preferring those of the citron, and se- 

 veral more modern propagators agree with him in this point. 

 We have, however, often taken seeds of any of the tribe that 

 were the most readily met with, and our success has been com- 

 plete. We have, however, preferred the seeds of imported 

 fruit, and those of such as have become rotten in the ware- 

 houses ; and if they be sown in rich light mould, about the end 

 of March or beginning of April, and placed in a mild bottom 

 heat, and kept rather moist and close, they will soon vegetate. 

 The back of a melon or cucumber frame is a good situation for 

 this purjiose. When tlie seeds vegetate, they should liave 

 abundance of light, and tlie sun, at that early period, will not 



