http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_14311899?nclick_check=1

Ancient citrus types still found in the Inland Empire

John Anthony Adams, Correspondent
Posted: 02/01/2010 02:51:35 PM PST
Updated: 02/01/2010 03:07:15 PM PST

History books describe the ancient types of citrus fruit that people ate long ago. These contained many seeds in comparison to the virtually seedless citrus fruit that supplanted them. Many of the seedling orange trees planted in California before the introduction of navels and valencias were called "Mediterranean Sweets."

These included the first oranges brought to California by the Mission fathers. Roger Birdsall remembered that there was still a grove of Mediterranean Sweets in Rialto when he started work as a county agricultural adviser in 1949.

The first cultivated grapefruit grown in the United States was called "Duncan" and it also contained many seeds. It was superseded by the seedless Marsh Grapefruit, but it often has been remarked that the Duncan had a better flavor.

The first oranges brought to Europe were sour orange seedlings rather than sweet oranges. They were used to make marmalade and for their essential oil, which is used in perfume and as a flavoring.

Can any of these ancient seedling citrus fruit be found and sampled today? The answer is yes. I own and operate the last surviving grove from Rialto's citrus heyday, and it is filled with them. When my grandfather planted this grove in 1907, nurseries would use any type of citrus seed they could get their hands on to produce rootstocks. Then they budded navels or valencias onto the rootstocks. Later they began to use sour orange as a rootstock because it produced a tree that was resistant to root rot in flooded locations.

Some of the rootstocks of our old trees have grown branches and produced fruit. These include Mediterranean Sweets, sour oranges and Duncan grapefruit. The Mediterranean Sweets and Duncan grapefruits are delicious, but the sour oranges are horribly bitter.

I am hoping to establish a roadside orange stand at my grove in the near future, and these old-fashioned citrus fruit will be available for sale.

John Anthony Adams is author of "Scammers, Schemers and Dreamers: The Turbulent History of Early Rialto." The book is available from amazon.com or at the Rialto Historical Society, 205 N. Riverside Ave., open 2-4 p.m. Wednesday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Contact Adams online at johnadams909@sbcglobal.net.

Cool, sounds like the budwood I was interested in at the UCR and posted some in info on in the cultivars sections. UCR calls the sweet orange prior to the naval and valenica as "Bidwells Bar".

Hi reverse.There are many old seeded orange varieties in the world, including
Bidwells Bar, dates back to 1856
Parson Brown, fruit from China, 1856
Pineapple, fruit from China, 1860
Shamouti, bud mutation of Palestine Beladi, 1844
Some are probably still propagated.

I may try to get some Shamouti when life permits.

reverse, you can purchase a Shamouti Orange (aka Jaffa/Palestine) any day of the week from Four Winds Growers. - Millet (1,081-)

reverse, Sorry, I did not look at your location. Of course Four Winds cannot be your supplier, as they cannot ship to Arizona. - Millet (1.081-)