The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1880-02-04
Seedlings VS.. Buddetl Orange Trees.

seedlings VS.. Budded Orange Trees.
Editor of The Florida Agr1culturist:
AS the nurseryrnen have zealously
defended their side OF this question
in the late numbers OF The FLORIDA
AGRI it may not be unde-
sirable to give little space to the
other side.
Mr.. Manville, at the close of
five column article, headed "Nomen.
clature of the Citrus" gives us in
one period the gist both Of his argu.
ment and conclusion, thus: -
'lf those persons who have groves
of inferior or seeding fruit, had
planted the best varieties. the same
effort now bestowed would produce
fruit Of tar superior quality, having
much greater monetary value" .. e..
Seeding are inferior in their fruit the
best varieties produce superior fruit.
Or, again, to sum up the argument
and classification of this elaborate
essay on the Nomenclature Of the
Citrus" we have; Ha ta't
'-....'.s .. y CLASS 1. '''
Name-Seeayings, p,
Synonym-Iyerior Fruit.
CLASS 2. j9higa eol
,sl Name--Bodded Trees, ,g,ss{
ln,s SynonYm-Superior Fruit. sas
Conclusion 1st,--Class End en-
braces the best varieties. alj2 e.
Conclusion 2nd,-The fruit of
these has the greatest monetary
value. 1v gea. ,aalov -5.
Now to the facts as they are. :, l
propose that those who have bearing
seedlings report to The FLORIDA
AGRICULTURIST both as to the quail.
ity OF the fruit and of the trees, also
as to The soil on which they grow,
and especially if any have seedlings
producing 'sinferior fruit"
s., My report is as follows:
Thirteen years ago planted many
thousand orange seeds from a grove
budded on sour stocks, where, at the
time, there were growing among
these, wild, unbudded trees in bear
ing, also two varieties of lemon. The
seeds were gathered promiscuously
from budded fruit In every part OF
the grove. The same year / planted
sour and bitter sweet seeds, and dur
ing that year and the following, plant.
ed into groves some five hundred
wild stumps and have planted seeds
and transplanted seedlings, sweet and
sour, more OF less, every subse-
quent year. l have now several
hundred seedlings-a large number
bearing-in the same groves with
budded trees. The soil is all ham,
mock, mostly dry, but varying in
richness. The seedlings are as large
and thrifty as those budded on sour
stumps or sour seedlings. They
have proved as hardy against frost
and other casualties as have the lat
fer. .ar3Wo3 aaaf aaA9r lcG e%ItIn
As to the fruit, that of all the
sweet, unbudded seedlings is per-
tectly uniform in every respect, and
the very best quality. Form, oval
or pear shaped. Rind, rather thin
and brittle. Color, brilliant orange.
Flavor, sub.acid, aromatic, spicy and
indescribably delicious when fully
ripe, fully equal to that Of any bud.
ded trees l have ever seen anywhere
in the State. 44sno.mn.
l have never yet found anywhere
a seeding orange of inferior quality.
Among all, l have found only two
exceptions to these uniform qualities
of Florida seedlings. Both excep.
tions are in this county. One is a
tree on Spruce Greek, planted by
Jesse Brown from the seed of an or
ange grown in Cuba. The fruit of
thisiis very large aud somewhat fat
tened. Rind, rather thick. Flavor,
very sweet, but lacking that aromatic
brilliancY characteristic OF the others.
Some prefer this tor its sweetness
The other exception is seeding
| owned by Judge Prevatt. Like the
{ former it grows on high, pine land
and bears fruit similar but / don't
know the source of the seed. id)
Near each Of these exceptional
trees there are other very thrifty
sweet seedlings bearing the uni
formly excellent fruit above de.
scribed which l call the Typical
Florida Orange.