868. The orange family, and certain palms, as we have seen (ﾺ 853.), grow freely in the open air in the south-west provinces; and there can be little doubt that their culture might be extended, were it found profitable to do so. This, however, is not the case; as North America is supplied with exotic fruits from the West Indian islands, at such a moderate rate, that pine-apples are sold in New York at threepence each. (Gard. Mag., vol. viii. p. 360.) At New Orleans, Mrs. Trollope found 'oranges, green peas, and red pepper, growing in the open air at Chirstmas.' (Dom. Man. of the Amer., vol. i. p. 9.) Mr. Gordon, on the 1st of January, 1828, was delighted with the orange trees in Florida, which he found bearing on their boughs four different crops, in various stages of growth, besides blossoms, and newly made shoots. In the same part of the country, on February 5th, he saw a pear ripened in the open air; and the day afterwards, hyacinths, violets, daffodils, and wallflowers, in full bloom, in the open garden, and unprotected from the weather. (Gard. Mag., vol. iv. p. 396.)
