The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-07-28
CnDp EXPERTS |E:IlS
find new FRUITS
Government Agricultural Wiz
ards Latest Is a Frost
e Proof Orange.
FLORIDA is ITS HOME
atE-~0-~
A q Result Of the Experiments Gar.
ried on There Department Has
Pleasure of Presenting New
Group Of citrous Fruits.
FLORIDA is ITS HOME

Group Of Citrous Fruits.
st. Louis Republics: The "tangelo"
and 'citrange'' are both new creations
in the way of fruits which have been
produced by Herbert j. Weber and
Walter 4. Swingle, official plant wiz
Der and Swingle are experts in the
breeding of plants. For years past
they have been making experiments
with oranges and other citrous fruits,
and as a result have evolved a few
things which are undeniable marvels.
one OF them, the "tangelo" above men,
toned. is a cross between the tanger-
inc orange and the ponaelo, or grape
fruit. Another, the ~"citrange." is q
frost proof orange. which has been
obtained by marrying the everyday
Florida orange with a worthless blu
hardy Species of rang imported from
Japan.
When the department of agriculture
started in upon this work 1t encoun-
tered q difficult problem. 1t was evil
dent that certain fruits, as yet nom
existent, We're badly wanted. What the
department desired was some new
fruits intermediate between the grape
fruit and the orange Which would
possess desirable market qualities, a
fruit having the agreeable acid flavor
of the grape fruit with the bitterness
reduced, and the loose, easily ~separable
rind of the mandarin or tangerine Or
fnge; a hardy orange Which would en-
dEre the occasional severe frosts which
visit the orange growing sections, and
which, If possible, would be sufficiently
frost proof to be raised further north
than the present citrous belt. and some
fruits having the loose, easily remov-
able rind of the mandarin or tangerine
orange combined with h quality,
f7avor and size of the ordinary sweet
orange.
Picking Out Plants.
Having thus decided exactly what
was wanted, h investigators, who did
ton OF nature, began their work by
picking out plants that would serve
suitably as parents, So far as the
FIRST item was concerned, the theoret-
zeal part Of the problem was not DIFF
tcult. It was a question of crossing
the grape fruit (Which is rather too
bitter and not easily peeled) with the
sweetest and most peelable orange In
sight. The tangerine orange filled
these requirements best, and it was
promptly chosen. being utilized as a
father, With the grape fruit as mother,
by transferring pollen from the flow
ers OF the former to the blossoms of
the latter.
Zeal Of experimentation and lard work
were required before a satisfactory cross
was obtained. Eventually, however, tho
object in view was achieved. and the re-
suit appears in the shape of a fruit, which
IS absolutely a new creation. The tan
yeio,'' which good old Dame Nature never
80 much as thought OF, is in effect a small
"kid-slove' grape fruit, to quote Doctor
Webber's own expression, with a readily
'Separable skin. dark orange in ceolr.
slightly acid, highly favored. rather
Eweet, attractive in appearance and with
-EegmeNtS that come apart eaSffV.
OF vastly more Importance than the
"tangelo," however, is the "ci1range," al
ready mentioned-a newly created fruit
which seems destined to revoluttonize the
orange-growing industry in the southern
states. While most agreeable in flavor, it,
is hardly enough to induce the climate, of
all the gulf coast region. There are, in
tact, two c~itranges,N representing distinct
species, which are totally different from
any citrous fruits hitherto known. One OF
them is the result of a cross in which the
frost-proof japanese orange was used as
father, while in the other case IT was made
to serve as mother.
The Japanese orange IN question is a
worthless little fruit, though pretty to look
at, onlY an inch and a half in diameter
and full of seeds. But its frost proof quail!
tiles. the experts we'll know, would be
worth untold millions OF dollars IL it could
be bestowed upon unsatisfactory hybrid. To
accomplish this proved an immensely diff
AAC04l loSny LIZ, "dAC d EISal lIdly SeCIH.t
tngly successful crosses We're made, near
~ all of them turned out false ones close
ly resembling either one parent or the
other. but not both. Nevertheless, the
work was patiently pursued, the idea be-
Ing that il nothing more could be accom-
plished a species OF orange might be Sc
cured which would blossom later in the
spring, and thus escape the nip of early
frost. Beyond this it was hoped .that..a
hybrid might be evolved which would be
at once frostproof and good to eat.
Experiments Mt Florida.
The experiments, made at the govern
ment's s~ubtropical garden at Miami, Ella,
were at length wholly successful, and, as
a reward. the experts of the department
of agriculture now enjoy ths pleasure OF
presenting to an appEeciatiVe world q new
group Of citrous fruits, to which the name
'~citranges" has been given. Though as
yet the group comprises only two fruits,
eventually there will be many. J
The '~citranges' are about midway be-
tween the two parents. combining the. de-:
sirable qualities Of both. They are not
sweet range or demons, but. of their
own kind. peculiar. Already they have
proved their ability to Withstand severe
frosts, enduring a temperature as low. as
6 degrees above zero in the case of trees
planted at the South Carolina experiment
station. The department of agriculture
believes that they may be grown without
protection throughout South Carolina,
Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi. Louisiana
Arkansas and parts OF Tennessee and
Texas.
Probably also they can be produced with.
commercial success in parts Of Washing
ton and Oregon. Obviously SO eporn1ous
an extension of the available orange grow
sng area cannot fail to affect most inHpor-
family the future prospects OF the indus
try In this country.
One OF the two citranges. called the ra2sRk,
fS a no 1tfff1t1 1tf1a fr,1tf Of co~oor,ho% oofJs
flavor, exceedingly juicy, nearly seedless-
averaging only one seed TO two fruits.
heavy for it's size, and with a strong and
pleasant aroma. 1t is a deep orange
color and does not exceed two inches in
diameter. While re.lber too sour to be
eaten out of the hand, it is very palatable
with 1t may be eaten as a break
fast fruit. or may be utilized for making