The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1879-11-26
The Nomenclature of the Citrus.
Read before the Lake George Fruit Growers Associ-
alton by Arthur H. Manvile, Esq.


Read before the Lake George Fruit Growers Associ-
alton by Arthur H. Manvile, Esq.
When new phenomena are brought
to light in any branch of science in
dicating the existence of an hitherto
unknown law, element, or force in
nature, many theories are advanced
by savants regarding the new dis
covery. The few established facts
are often obscured by the mass of
conflicting opinion, all of which fur
ther development may prove to be
erroneous. Many facts regarding
orange culture in Florida are we'll
established, prominent among which
is the great fact that the orange can
be successfully and proftably grown
in the State. The rule by which this
is TO be attained, however, is not
clearly defined, indeed there seems to
be almost as many theories regarding
the proper mode of procedure as
there are individuals engaged in the
pursuit. Horticulture is science
having fixed and invariable laws
which are recognized by intelligent
horticulturists the world over. In
many countries the orange has been
grown for centuries, and its culture
reduced to system in perfect har-
mony with these laws. In this State
the orange has been long grown, but
heretofore in a careless and desuL
tory manner. Few of the new set
tiers who have recently engaged in
this business are practical horticul-
turists; still smaller number are
familiar with the methods employed
where the culture of this fruit has
been carried to it's highest perfection,
A large portion of these new orange
growers fall readily into the imme-
thodical ways which have hitherto
been practiced; while many OF the
more thoughtful discarding estab-
lished facts and precedents, prefer to
demonstrate the correct methods for
themselves, by experiments often cost
ly and disastrous. The whole sub
iect IS, therefore, in confused and
unsatisfactory condition. 1t is very
desirable in order to afford reliable
information to prospective growers,
and to ensure success to those en-
gagged in the business, that this indus
try be placed upon settled basis, as
is the case with other branches OF
fruit culture, and that uniform and
correct system be generally adopted.
1t is an encouraging fact that the
efforts of the agricultural press, the
influence of the various agricultural
and horticultural societies, and the
general discussion of the subject in
the public prints and elsewhere, are
gradually etfecting this result.
Ii orange culture is to be placed
upon the same scientific basis as the
culture of the apple and pear, closer
attention must be paid to the nomen-
clature of the citrus family, both in
the introduction of foreign varieties
and the classification OF our native
fruit. In considering this subject l
hope shall be pardoned for'alluding
briefly at the outset to the relative
merits OF sweet seedlings and bud
ded trees. Until this question has
been settled we can neither hope for
correct culture nor systematic nomen-
clature.
In the territory which now consti-
tutes the state Of Ohio, during the
early part of the present century, lived
a quaint and excentric old man tamil-
iarly known among the settlers as
Johnny Appleseed. For over forty
wears this old man, dressed in a sin
gle garment made of coffee sack,
with bare arms and feet, traversed
the Wilderness far ahead of the most
daring pioneer, planting, here and
there in favored spots in the forest,
nurseries OF apple trees. He OBJ
tanned his supply of seed from the
cider presses of Pennsylvania, whence
he "packed" them through summer
heat and winter cold to his far dis.
4 tant field of operations. Johnny was
a firm believer in the Seeding plan,
terming it "the only proper way" and
denouncing as absolute wickedness
all devices for pruning and grating.
As a result of his unwearying efforts
this fruit was disseminated over
hundred thousand square miles, prov
ing a great blessing to the people and