The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1895-03-09
AS TO ORANGES.

The orange is easily Mcqueen of fruit
trees. tits of obscure origin. Nothing
is said of it in the ancient classics.
Scientists trace it to the farther bank Of
the Ganges.O From thence it seems to
have been brought to Syria by the
Arabs. The crusaders discovered it's
singular beauty, and transplanted it to
Spain; and the Spanish invaders proba-
bly, brought it to Florida, as there are
trees at st. Augustine which are
thought to be two hundred years old
still hearing fruit bountifully in their
old age. The scattered wild groves are &C.
counted for on the theory that travellers
and Indians, carrying the fruit in their
packs for food, unconsciously scattered
the seeds about their camps. But, of
course, as they had no care,-like the
apple-tree of the North, which, it is
said, if neglected, will degenerate to its
original sour crab state, they have gone
back to their old unregenerate condi-
tions sturdy in their depravity. but bear
ing only bitter fruit. But it is noble
stock, nevertheless, and, when budded
with new grace, bears as fine fruit as
the world sees anywhere.
The orange culture, amounting this
year, it is estimated, to about S5.0000 GOO,
is the chief staple of Florida. Much
capital is invested in it. Many hands
labor at it. We are in the midst of the
caofinn
groves front on this Charm Lake. Bless
ings on the Mr.. Great Heart that not
only built here memorial chapel and
commodious parsonage, but. by way of
emphasis, also set off for it an acre grove
of fifty orange trees!
Only sand l said; but this is one of
the half truths. Sand artifcially fertil-
lied is the bed whore the roots Of this
marvellous tree suck out the nutriment
and send up in the sap, to be elaborated
in the dense foliage of the tree-top, the
nectar OF the orange. l do not cease to
MARVEL never shall-at the mystery
of the transformation. 1t is the last
thing that one would naturally expect,
that out of this sand, with apparently
no food sustenance for plants in it what
ever, there should come such beautiful
and abundant fruit. By what subtle
process do these searching roots gather
out from these infinitesimal particles of
mere grit liquids for it must be that,
else it could not ascend in sap. By what
power is it pumped up through the cell
structure of the trunk, distributed
among the branches, and spread out
among the leaves? Shall we ever know
| that marvellous chemical mystery in
which the fervid sunshine and the balmy
atmosphere elaborate and sweeten and
flavor the juice, carrying it through the
beautiful and delicate transformations
of bud and flower, and then of green,
hard, sour little balls. slowly swelling
them through months of summer heat,
psncilling them with touch of gold
as they round into their fulness in
the autumn days? Who taught this
marvellously scientific orange-tree to
pack away its nectarine juices into the
tender cells OF golden globes, to cover
them about with layer Of tasteless pith.
and then to draw around all tough,
bright colored, bitter peel water proof
and firm enough to carry safely it's prec-
ious enclosure to all chimes of the globe,
and yet SO easily opened that, at the
slightest puncture, the pentup sweet
ness guehe6 to meet the pressure of
rosebud lips. and bearded ones as well?
IS. j. Humphrey, d d., in Advance.