648 
Supplement io the " Tropical Agriculturist.'* [MARCH 1, 1900. 
infecting and destroying the germs of malaria in 
general and yellow fever in particular. Briefly, it 
may be said, lime promota;? vigorously the decay of 
organic matter, chiefly I)y furnishing a neuc.ral or 
alkaline environment in which the nitrifying 
germs, which are most acti ve in the destruction 
of organic matter, exercise their mo&t important 
functions. 
The Legend of the Ukange Blossom. — The 
wearing of orange blossoms at weddings is account- 
ed for in various ways. Among other stories is 
the following very pretty legend : — " An African 
king presented a Spanish king with a magnificent 
orange tree, whose creamy, waxy blossom? niul 
wonderful fragrance excited the admiration of the 
whole court- Many begged in vain for a branch 
of the plant, and a foreign ambassador was tor- 
mented by the desire to ii troduce so groat a 
curiosity to his native land. He used every possible 
means, fair or foul, to accomplish his purpose, but 
all his efforts coming to naugiit, he gave up in 
despair. The fair daughter of the Court gardener 
was loved by a young artisan, but lacked the 
dowry the family considered necessary in a bride. 
One day, chancing to break off a spray of orange 
blossom.;, thi' gardener thougiitlessly gave it to his 
daughter. Seeing the coveted prizB in the girl's 
iiair, the wily .ambassador offered her a sum 
sufficient for the disired dowry provided she gave 
him the branch and s' ■ i nothing about it. Her 
marriage was soon c leb/ated, and on her way to 
the altar, in grateful rem .mbrance of the source of 
all her happiness, she secretly broke off another bit 
of the lucky tree to adroii her hair." Since the 
plant was first introduced into Europe it has been 
customary for a bride to wear a few sprays of the 
orange blosjom in her hair or somewherx ou her 
wedding dr«ss, 
