The Belgick, or, Netherlandish hesperides that is, the management, ordering, and use of the limon and orange trees, fitted to the nature and climate of the Netherlands / by S. Commelyn ; made English by G.V.N.

CHAP. XXI.

Of the Orange Tree with speckled Fruit.

TO have the several Sorts and Varieties together, as much as is possible, the tender Plant is well worthy to be joined with the others.

* 1.1This Orange Tree is in respect to the different Colour both of the Leaves and Fruits called by Ferra∣rius▪ Aurantium Virgatum▪ and by us the speckled Orange Tree:* 1.2 It is

much tenderer then any other, as being not well able to endure the Cold; hath many tender Boughs which easily break; and spotted in divers places with some Brim∣stone coloured Streaks; the Leaves are in many parts lesser then those of the common Orange Tree, and have also on many of them seve∣ral Brimstone coloured Spots, which is delightful to the Eye.

The Blossoms are like those of the Common, but smaller; the Fruit is, before it be ripe, orderly speckled with green and white Brimstone-like Streaks, and as by certain unequal Lines distinguish∣ed; when the Fruit is grown Ripe, then the green Streaks are Yel∣low, and the other turned into a Saffron Colour.

The outward part of the Pill is somewhat rough, the inward part of the Pill thick; the Pulpe

of a Brimstone Colour, distin∣guished by Skins or Films into nine Partitions; which is of a plea∣sant sowre Tast; the whole Ap∣ple is somewhat longish-round of Shape.

Here is to be observed, that all the Leaves and Fruits of the Tree are not of that variety of Colour, but only some; and was seen of us first with perfect ripe Fruits in the Gardens of the Sieur John Ro∣eters, in his Lifetime Secretary of the City of Amsterdam, and with Will. Vanden Henvell, both the most experienced and greatest Impro∣vers of this Husbandry of our Time.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hesp. Lib. 4. Cap. 7.
• * 1.2

  Shape.