on the wood of the current year, and hence the object of the pruner ought to be, to encourage the pro- 
duction of young wood in every part of the tree. In France they thin the flowers, which by that means 
they are enabled to use for distillation. The thinned fruit is used in confectionary. The thinning of the 
fruit, however, will depend upon the state of the trees ; those at Bromley Hill in Kent, never require any 
thinning, where the trees are very fine, and loaded with peculiarly large fruit. The coccus and red spider 
are the chief insects injurious to the citron tribe : both to be removed by water applied with a brush or 
sponge. Mr. Mean, early in March, when he top-dresses his plants, applies a copious washing with the en- 
gine; then shuts up the house close for three or four hours, which produces a strong heat, as high as /0° 
which effects the destruction of the red spider, while the stems and leaves are wiped with a wet sponge, to 
remove other insects and dirt. At Rienes in France, where the fruit of the orange is reared for sale, it is 
gathered every year, generally in May. If not gathered then, it will hang on the tree for two or three 
years longer ; but when the young fruit is green and swelling, the old ripe fruit becomes somewhat 
shrivelled, and almost void of juice. But as the new fruit begins to arrive at maturity, the juice begins 
to return to the old fruit, so that both old and new crops are in perfection the following May. In this 
way at Genoa the fruit is sometimes allowed to remain on three years, and being then gathered, has a 
peculiar sub-acid sweetness and flavour, and is sold at a higher price. In conservatories the orange tree 
generally requires fifteen months to ripen its fruit, and hence both green and ripe fruit are together on the 
tree. In gathering for the table in this country, the fruit should be carefully cut off with a few leaves 
attached, and thus garnished sent to the desert. By allowing the fruit to remain, the trees will at all times 
have green and yellow fruit, which, with the shewy leaves and fragrant white blossoms, form in spring, a 
charming ornament. The wood of the Citrus tribe, is universally hard and compact ; they abound in a 
volatile, fragrant, bitter, exciting oil, if to this be added the excellence of their wood, and the fragrance 
and beauty of their flowers, I know not if an order more interesting to man can be pointed out. The 
productiveness of the common orange is enormous. A single tree at St. Michael’s has been known to 
produce 20,000 oranges fit for packing, exclusive of the damaged fruit and waste, which may be calculated 
at one third more. 
The China Orange contains a large quantity of saccharine matter and mucilage, united to an agreeable 
malic acid ; hence it is much employed as a wholesome, cooling, and antiseptic article of food for the sick, 
particularly in febrile, inflammatory or scorbutic effections. Eaten, however, in too large a quantity, the 
orange is liable to produce great disorder of the stomach and bowels, colic, diarrhoea, and cholera ; and, 
like other sub-acid fruits, is hurtful in calculous complaints. This country is chiefly supplied with oranges 
from the Peninsula, where they are grown for exportation ; they are likewise brought in great perfection 
from Malta, Italy, the West India Islands, and other places, but the best come from the Azores, Portugal, 
and Spain. The fruit is imported in slight chests and boxes, and each orange carefully wrapped in a 
separate paper. The orange trade carried on by this country is (as Mr. M’Culloch observes) of very consi- 
derable value and importance. Oranges are never much more, and often much less expensive than most of 
our superior or even common domestic fruits, while they are perhaps the most refreshing and wholesome of 
those of warmer climates, and brought here in such abundance and perfection, as to give a tropical character 
to our markets and deserts. It is believed that fully a third of the whole quantity imported is consumed 
in London and its environs, which must on the whole have a very beneficial effect on the health of so 
large and densely populated a town. It is not possible to form any estimate of the number of persons 
employed in the importation and sale of oranges, but they must certainly be great. 
Orange trees require a large share of air and light ; the soil should be rich and light. At Genoa and 
Florence they are grown in a strong yellow clay, richly manured; this is considered by Italian gardeners 
to be best suited to the Orange tribe. 
Height, 10 to 30 feet. — Flowers, May, July. — Cultivated, 1595. 
The orange, with a vernal face 
Wears ev’ry rich autumnal grace; 
While the young blossoms here unfold, 
There shines the fruit like pendent gold. 
Citrons their balmy sweets exhale, 
And triumph in the distant gale. 
Cotton's Vision of Pleasure. 
