102 



ORANGE CULTURE. 



NAVEL ORANGE. 



This peculiar orange is also known in Florida as the um- 

 bilical, Bahia, embiguo, and seedless orange. 



It is well to know that there are two distinct varieties of the 

 navel orange : one was imported into California from Australia, 

 the other was brought from Bahia by the Department of Agri- 

 culture at Washington. 



The latter is in every respect the superior, and in Califor- 

 nia is known as the Riverside navel ; the former is called the 

 Australian navel. 



The navel, Bahia, etc., of Florida, is identical with the Riv- 

 erside navel. 



The tree is not very thorny, and is a good grower and 

 early bearer, frequently bearing fruit the second year after bud- 

 ding even on small stocks. Size, large to very large ; color, dark 

 orange ; has a protuberance on the blossom end ; hence its name 

 and trade-mark ; stem inserted in a shallow-ribbed cavity with 

 deep lines ; skin smooth and glossy ; pulp, melting and tender ; juice 

 sweet, sprightly, and aromatic ; first quality. Ripens in January. 



TANGIERINE. 



This is the general name of a peculiar type of orange, which 

 is well known as the kid-glove species. Some botanists regard it 

 as a distinct species, while others contend that it is merely a 

 marked variety of the sw^eet orange. 



MANDARIN. 



This is a very beautiful tree, distinguished by its small lanci- 

 olate leaves and slender flexible branches, which cause it to re- 

 semble the weeping willow in appearance ; is rather dwarfish, 

 and of a formal habit of growth ; the flowers are volute, and 

 smaller than those of the sweet orange. 

 • The first fruit is small, flattened ; skin of a deep saffron 



color, and so loosely adhered to the rind that it may be pulled 

 away, and the pulp, which is very aromatic and pleasant, may 

 be eaten without soiling one's gloves ; hence the popular name 

 of this type of orange. 



