The Saint Paul globe., 1902-11-30
TREE WORTH FORTUNE
MILLIONS ADDED TO NATIONS
WEALTH BY AN IDEA.
Origin of the SeedIess Orange Has
Romance Attached to It-Unique
Story of Discovery and Development
Woman to Whom World Owes the
Fruit Unknown to Fame.

Standing in the center of one of the
largest conservatories on the grounds
Of the department of agriculture is a
tree that has made millions of dollars
for the United States. This is the first
seedless orange tree and the parent of
all the seedless orange trees in the
world. It's origin and history are ex-
ceedingly interesting To the average
lover of oranges and even to many
Well-versed horticulturists the fact
that the seedless orange is an accident
and a recent discovery is unknown. It
is probable that no fruit or flower in
the world is surrounded with so much
mystery and romance as this delicious
product, says the Washington Post.
Some thirty years ago, before the de-
partment of agriculture had been
raised to the dignity of a. portfolio in
the cabinet, an American lady travel
Ing in South America wrote to the
commissioner of agriculture concern
ing some remarkably fine and sweet
oranges she had come across in the
congenia1 climate of Brazil Such
communications are extremely ortIi-
nary and have been so since the very
foundation of the department. So as
matter of official routine the letter was
forwarded to William Saunders, at that
time superintendent of the grounds.
AS is and always has been the rule in
the service, a very formal and polite
letter of acknowledgment and thanks
was sent in reply, with request that
slips from the trees be sent to the de-
partment.
Their Superior Quality.
Had the lady been negleetfuI or lack
ed enthusiasm after receiving the
formal little note from one of Uncle
sans corresponding secretaries and
allowed the matter to drop, there one
of the most profitable industries of the
South and Southwest would be TODAY
unknown. But being a great lover of
1rult, and especially admiring the Bra
Z1l1an orange, she procured some slips
from the trees and forwarded them to
Washington.
The oranges of the native trees were
remarkable only for their delicious
sweetness. They were not otherwise
especially rare nor were they seedless
The young orange trees received the
greatest care and were made to prosper
In the national gardens. However, the
trees We're not very productive, al
though In other ways healthy. spirit
OF experiment was then growing among
arborculturists and the new orange
trees from Brazil offered rich oppor-
tun1t1es IN this field. The orange in
duStry was just at that time taking a
firm hold in the south. So experts and
gardeners worked with the strange
plants until after much grating and
hybr1dfzfng a tree bearing seedless
oranges was brought forth. This de-
Velepment was surprise, even a
source of wonder, to those who had
labored on it's production
The discovery created sensation
throughout the entire horticultural
world, and exorbitant prices were paid
by high Hvers for this dainty morsel.
The first tree was most carefully nur-
tured. 1t fourished, fewered and
fruited abundantly. Cuttings from 1t
were sent to Florida and California,
where they Immediately adapted them
selves to the rich soil. This opened up
a rich mine of wealth in the semi
tropical regions Of the United States
Seedless oranges became known as the
navel orange. They were shipped to
all parts OF the country and to Europe
The yields have usually been generous
and the results have run well into the
millions, so that the parent tree at the
department of agriculture is the great
est financial tree" on earth.
Proved Great Boon.
This wonderful tree still prospers
and continues to bear fruit. In growth
1T has accommodated itself to the
height of the glass roof underneath
which it stands. The spreading
branches extend far out, but do not
reach high. The foliage has the rich
green of our far Southern orange trees,
and the flowers are pure white, waxen.
fragrant and luxuriant. Green oranges
are now hanging on all the boughs.