The Lime. 189 



of wind can reach it, is (if not destroyed) as large as an 

 oak a century old. Flowers may be found upon the 

 lemon-tree all the year round : the fruit is developed and 

 ripened in much less time than that of the orange : as a 

 rule there are four distinct annual crops. 



The value and economic uses of the lemon need no 

 comment. The juice ; the rind, both fresh and dried \ 

 the oil, or essence, obtained from the latter ; all in turn 

 subserve excellent purposes in connection with food, 

 medicine, and perfumery. Lemonade, the most familiar, 

 is often, perhaps usually, prepared by pouring boiling 

 water upon sliced lemons. This is wrong. By so doing, 

 a strong infusion is made of the peel, and this, being 

 mingled with the juice, diminishes its refreshing properties 

 and influence. The proper way is to squeeze the lemons 

 into cold water, adding the cut-up rind of one, refined 

 sugar to the amount needed, and, when procurable, a few 

 crushed strawberries. The name is traceable to the 

 Arabic limun or limu, and this, like the Arabic word for 

 the orange, represents, in all likelihood, an earlier Aryan 

 term. Seeing that both names are of oriental origin, it 

 is curious that the Indian appellation of the citron never 

 moved westwards. 



THE LIME (Citrus Medica, var. adda). 



THERE can be little hesitation as to the proper botanical 

 place of the Lime, all the characters indicating very near 

 affinity with the citron. The obtuse leaves, with wingless 



