April 19, 1894. 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
307 
purposes, being hard and durable. The special interest attaching to the 
tree is the fact that it is peculiar to the island, and the questions 
naturally arise whether it originated there spontaneously, a hypothesis 
now considered untenable, or whether it was imported, and if so, from 
whence ? In any case there is evidence of its presence ages before the 
present time in soil now much below the surface of the sea. The most 
probable explanation of its presence in these coral islands is that fruits 
of the Virginian Juniper were introduced by birds from the continent 
to the island, and that in course of time the species has varied so greatly, 
owing to local conditions, that it is now so different from its ancestral 
state as to warrant being placed in a separate species. 
Variegation in ]\aremus. —Mr. Wolley Dod showed leaves of 
Narcissus incomparabilis marked with longitudinal stripes of yellow. 
The condition was common this year, and independent of variations in 
soil. Mr. Wilks had met with the same experience. 
MARIANTHUS DRUMMONDIANUS. 
Although nearly three decades have passed away since this 
charming little blue-flowered plant was introduced to public notice, it 
is as yet unknown to many cultivators. It is a slender and graceful 
twining plant, as depicted in the illustration (fig. 51). We have seen 
a specimen flowered extremely well in one of the houses at the Crystal 
Palace under the management of Mr. W. G. Head, and the freedom 
with which it produced its flowers, and the long period during which 
they lasted, amply proved the value of the plant. It succeeds in a 
compost of light loam, peat, and sand, in a greenhouse or any other 
cool structure. 
THE JAFFA ORANGE. 
Of the history of this Orange apparently very little is known. It is 
an egg-shaped Orange, of large size, and a recent introduction to this 
country, where it is esteemed as a dessert fruit chiefly on account of 
its size, colour, and uncommon shape. It is called the Jaffa Orange 
because, so far, it is received only from Jaffa, where, however, other 
varieties of Oranges are grown, but perhaps not so largely exported as 
the egg-shaped sort. Evidently a similar Orange is known in Malta. 
In a Report on the Fruits of Malta, prepared by the late Dr. Gulia, 
Director of the Botanic Garden (“ Kew Bulletin,” 1888, p. 237), amongst 
the Sweet Oranges grown in the island is a variety described as follows :— 
“The egg-shaped or oblong Orange (taring tauuali) forms a very 
lucrative production for the Maltese gardener. The fruit is large, 
oblong, rind thickish, pulp containing an agreeable juice, seeds few. 
It is the most perfect of our Oranges, and really forms a handsome 
dessert fruit. It is extensively grown for export and sold from 4d. 
to Is 3d. per dozen.” According to the “Histoire et Culture des 
Grangers,” par A. Risso et A. Poiteah, Paris, ed. 1872 (Du Breuil), this 
egg-shaped Orange is apparently not known in Southern Europe, or at I 
least it is not figured in this important work amongst the cultivated 
Oranges of that part of the world. In Sicily, “ Oranges of two kinds 
are described, the oval and the round. The trees that bear the oval 
fruit are preferred. . . . The oval Oranges are in demand in commerce, 
being more durable.” In the U.S. Consular Reports, No. 41^, June. 1884, 
pp. 760, 761, it is mentioned that the Oranges in Syria “are dis¬ 
tinguished by their shape and contour : Belady, round, flat ends, very 
thick peel, hardy; ripens late. Shamonty, long like an egg, thin- 
skinned ; ripens early. Bury, finest flavour; a seedling. All these, 
except the last, are grafted upon the Wild or Bitter Orange. . . . Only 
one variety [^the Bisry] grows directly from seed.” 
Judging by the brief particulars here given, the Shamon'y appe&vB 
to come nearest to the Jaffa Orange as known in this country. 
The Maltese oval Orange, already regarded as probably identical 
with the egg-shaped “Jaffa” Orange, has been introduced to Florida. 
In a report on the condition of “ Tropical and Sub-Tropical Fruits in 
the United States in 1887,” U.S. Departinentof Agriculture, Washington, 
1888, p. 66, the following particulars are given :— 
^'Maltese Oral. —From the Mediterranean. Imported by General 
Sandford. Thornless, rapid grower, very prolific; fruit oval in shape, 
and of a beautiful orange colour, medium in size, and bears transportation 
unusually well. Of some twenty boxes shipped to England last winter 
there were only tea Oranges spoiled on arrival in the lot. This variety 
is a special favourite in the London market. It is probably more largely 
planted in Orange County [Florida] than any other kind.” 
A Maltese “ oval ” Orange is enumerated amongst the fruits culti¬ 
vated in South Australia. Again, a “ St. Michael’s egg ” Orange grown 
in Florida evidently approaches the “ Maltese oval ” in character. It is 
described as follows:—“Large, oval; thick skinned; juicy, but not 
rich ; quality fair. Tree prolific ; few thorns.” U.S. Department of 
Agriculture, Report l.c , p. 71. 
The Jaffa Orange has been largely imported info the United Kingdom 
during the last ten years, and “ in colour, shape, and flavour it is a most 
attractive fruit.” In a Foreign Office Consular Report (1884, p. 1433) 
it is stated that “ Perhaps in no part of the world is the Orange grown 
to greater perfection than in the orchards of Jaffa.” In 1883 there were 
exported to the United Kingdom 11,278 boxes of Jaffa Oranges. Since 
that time the trade has considerably increased, and at the present time 
he exports have reached 36,000 boxes. 
The influence of this increased activity in fruit growing at Jaffa has 
brought to it a remarkable prosperity. In a Foreign Office Report 
(Miscellaneous Series, 1893, No. 300) “ On Irrigation and Orange 
Growing at Jaffa,” the following particulars are given 
“ Jaffa, the chief town of the Caza of that name, owes its importance 
to its climate, which is extremely favourable for Orange growing. As 
a natural consequence this seaport is surrounded on the land side by 
Orange groves, covering an area of some 720 hectares (about 1780 
acres). Jaffa Oranges, thanks to their excellent flavour, have of late 
years acquired a world-wide reputation, and while some eighteen years ago 
this fruit was known only to Beyrout, Alexandria, and Constantinople, 
enormous quantities of it are now exported to Europe, America, and 
even to India, and its cultivation has consequently increased to a very 
considerable extent, A special feature of Jaffa Oranges is that they will 
keep from thirty days to forty days, and, if properly packed, for two 
months, and even three months. New Orange groves are continually being 
laid out, and now number some 400, against 200 some fifteen years ago. This, 
again, has influenced the population of Jaffa, which now contains 42,000 
inhabitants, against 15,000 inhabitants some twelveyearsago. The revenues 
have doubled, and the vicinity of the custom house is crowded with 
piles of cases of Oranges waiting for shipment to all parts of the world. 
The Imperial Ottoman Government, with a view to encourage the 
export of Oranges, levies an export duty of only 1 per cent, on them, 
and the exports for the last few years have averaged 36,000 boxes per 
annum. Owing principally to the trade in Oranges, Jaffa now ranks 
next after Beyrout in importance among Syrian coast towns.” . . . 
"Orange growing in Syria is conducted exclusively by natives. 
Each Orange garden contains some 2000 square feet of planted area, 
equal to about 1300 trees to the hectare (= 2 471143 acres). The trees 
begin to boar the fourth year after planting, but it is estimated that it 
takes seven years, and sometimes eight years, before an Orange orchard 
yields a remunerative crop. During all this time, and even afterwards, 
the orchards have to be watered continually, and this irrigation is 
the most difficult and the most laborious part of the work in con- 
