ORANGE- CULTURE.


 An orange-tree is a very attractive sight at all seasons
of the year-with a straight, symmetrical, upright trunk


covered with a smooth, sleek, pale-gray bark, and graceful
curving branches which spread in all directions and are al-
ways clothed with an abundant foliage of rich, glossy, dark-
green leaves-that is, if the tree is well cared for. Its regu-
lar blossoming season is the spring, but trees may be seen
in blossom at all seasons, and sometimes one may see on
the same tree blossoms, and green and mature fruit. The
blossom is a small star-shaped flower, snow-white, and of a
waxy look. The oranges ripen from late in November


until early in Marc]
and the season; an
fascinating spectac
when fully laden w
 The orange is
habitat and under t
enemy. It is social
panionship; it being
are nearest inhabited


, depending somewhat upon the variety
d it would be difficult to imagine a more
le than a grove, or even a single tree,
ith its ripe, golden-hued, luscious fruit.
a very hardy tree in its own natural
he right conditions-cold being its chief


bli
eg
ed


e, too, and appears to like human com-
a noticeable fact that those trees that
dwellings are usually the largest and


most prolific. It continues to grow until thirty to forty
years of age, and is estimated to afford a productive yield
for at least a hundred years. In a famous grove in the
northern part of the State stands a tree known to be up-
ward of eighty years old, yet if has every appearance of
youthful vigor, and bears enormous crops. Orange-trees
are hardly in what can be called their prime until after
they are twenty years old, and then they increase in value
for at least twenty years more.
 It is surprising under how much neglect the orange will
live and even thrive, but, in order to be made a reliable
source of profit, it must be constantly and intelligently
cared for. The remainder of this chapter will be devoted
to pointing out a few of the essential conditions of success-
ful orange-culture-such as will enable the beginner to