According to a correspondent of Notes and Queries, the practice may be traced to the Saracens, by whom the orange-blossom was regarded as a symbol of a prosperous marriagea circumstance which is partly to be accounted for by the fact that in the East the orange-tree bears ripe fruit and blossom at the same time.

The orange-tree is considered young at the age of a hundred years.

THE FIRST ORANGE-TREE IN FRANCE.The first Orange-tree cultivated in the centre of France was to be seen a few years ago at Fontainebleau.

There was an orange-tree, where a mocking-bird was wont to sing and a girl in white to walk, that the detectives wot not of.

We pointed to a tall orange-tree overhead, laden with fruit of every hue from bright green to gold.

It may be seen in Sedges, in the Orange-tree, and in Black Alder (Ilex verticillata).

This is the origin of the orange-tree.

I imagine how a fine old orange-tree, that bears oranges with the thinnest possible skin and with no pips, juicy and rich, might feel that it has outgrown the fruit of its first years, when the skin was half an inch thick, the pips innumerable, and the eatable portion small and poor.

One told how an officer, whose duty it was to lead the charge, took shelter behind an orange-tree no bigger than his wrist, and shouted, "Go on, men!

Agnes wound some silvery-white flax round her distaff, and seated herself near him under an orange-tree; and while her small fingers were twisting the flax, her large, thoughtful eyes were wandering off on the deep blue sea, pondering over and over the strange events of the day before, and the dreams of the night.

The most interesting object however, is, the orange-tree planted by Francis I. in 1421, which is in full health and bearing: alas!

You could put the kitchen, of which the cooking apparatus consists of two gas-rings, in the roots of the orange-tree in the Tuileries gardens.

Her feet left the ground, and a brutal thrust threw her to her side at the foot of an orange-tree.

There was a small orange-tree in her flower-pot.

The sight of this orange-tree interested Marco very much, for it reminded him of home.

"O, I know an orange-tree well enough," replied Marco.

Mary Williams came out last, with her orange-tree safe in her hand.

In the centre of the stage, an orange-tree, laden with fruit and bedecked with ribbons.

On the banks of small streams, in the pleasant valleys of those lovely islands, it builds its nest in the branches of the orange-trees, of which it is so fond, that even in this country the bird has been known to find its way into the greenhouse, and select the fork of one of the branches of an orange-tree on which to build its nest, seeming to be pleased with the sweet perfume of the blossoms.

It rarely happens to find a Plant vigorous enough, to have (like an Orange-Tree) at once beautiful shining Leaves, fragrant Flowers, and delicious nourishing Fruit.

"This is New York province, county of Tryon, sir, and yonder bird trilling is not that gray minstrel of the Spanish orange-tree, mocking the jays and the crimson fire-birds which sing 'Peet! peet!' among the china-berries.

At his signal the folding-doors of the salon opened, and servants appeared, bringing in the fateful orange-tree, which they put at the foot of the table, placing on each side a slender myrtle-tree.

It was a drawing, in silver-point, of an orange-tree in mingled fruit and blooman exquisite piece of work, of a Japanese truth, intricacy, and perfection.

# [Footnote 100: #arbre fortuné#, i.e., the orange-tree.]

Thy beauty walketh by my side By the green wood, on the sea; I hear thee in the bird that sings Upon the orange-tree; Thy face upon the haunted streams Is looking up to me.