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_Apples Vs. Oranges _
By: Lily
No two things could be more different than apples and oranges. Just by looking
at them one can see many different characteristics that set them apart from
each other. Apples are red, yellow, russet, and sometimes striped in color and
oranges are usually orange. Oranges have to be peeled before one can eat them.
These two different fruits grow in different parts of the world, on different
trees, and in different climates. What could these complete opposites have in
common? Surprisingly they share many qualities that really do make them a lot
alike. The apple is the most important tree fruit of the temperate regions of
the world. Apples have been grown and used for food since the early dawn of
history. Charred remains found in Stone Age lake dwellings in central Europe
show that prehistoric people ate apples. There are carvings of apples on
ancient tombs and monuments in the Middle East. The apple appears often in
myths and folklore of ancient civilizations. In Greek mythology Hercules
traveled to the ends of the Earth to bring back the golden apples of
Hersperides. A golden apple-the apple of discord-caused a quarrel that led to
the Trojan War. A Norse myth tells of a magical apple that keeps people alive
forever. The Halloween game dipping for apples had a beginning among the
ancient Celts as a way to foretelling the future. Early European settlers
brought apples to America. At first apples were mainly used for cider, which
is another name for apple juice. As the frontier moved westward so did apple
trees. One of the first things a settler would do after clearing the land and
building a cabin was to plant apple trees in the yard. Apples grow on a
medium- sized tree. In good soils, non pruned trees will reach 9 to 12 meters
(30 - 40 feet) in height. Apple trees generally do not begin to blossom and
bear fruit until they are 5 to 8 years old. They reach maximum production at
about age 20; commercial orchards are generally replaced when they reach 35 to
40 years in age. Although the trees would live longer, the fruit from old
trees is generally smaller and poorer in appearance and more expensive to care
for. Apple trees can withstand temperatures as low as -40 degrees C. Here in
the United States apples mainly grow in Washington, Pennsylvania, New York,
Michigan and California. The trees need a period of cold or dormancy to grow
and bear fruit properly. So they cannot grow in tropic areas. Oranges on the
other hand also were around in ancient times. Some experts have proved that
they date back as far as 4,000 years ago according to ancient Chinese records.
Oranges also come from the other side of the Atlantic. When Christopher
Columbus sailed for the New World, he carried with him seeds of oranges and
other types of citrus fruits. The seeds were planted on the island of
Hispaniola. Just as the Europeans spread apple trees westward in the United
States by moving further that way. The Indians spread citrus trees beyond the
Spanish Plantations by dropping seeds from fruit they were eating. Soon groves
were of wild citrus trees. Orange trees never stop growing. By the time it is
20, it may be 4.5 meters (15 feet) high and producing more than 1,000 oranges
yearly. Just as apple trees get old and stop producing quality fruit there are
few orange trees over 100 years old that still produce quality oranges. Citrus
trees are called evergreens because they have leaves in all seasons. Actually
the old leaves fall off and new ones are constantly being produced. Citrus
growers like apple growers have to protect their hard-earned crops from
extremes in temperature. Even though Oranges are mostly grown in the tropics,
a sudden drop in temperature can cause disaster. For these reasons fuel
heaters and wind machines are used to prevent frost. Both Apple trees and
orange trees produce a fragrant blossom that later will produce the fruit we
have all come to enjoy. Even though apples and oranges have many differences.
They still share many qualities that make them similar. They may grow in
different parts of the world, in different climates and on different trees.
But, many of the things that the young trees endure happen to both of them.
Extremes in temperature can destroy an entire crop. Growers have to take many
of the same precautions to insure a productive crop. So the next time you
think apples and oranges are complete opposites try thinking about more than
outer appearance.
Word Count: 768
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