OUR SENTIMENTAL GARDEN 



this fantastic power. The taste of marmalade, for instance, 

 is fraught with no special memories. As for the pleasure of 

 sight in connexion with the orange, it is now concentrated 

 upon the half-dozen trees in pots, but bravely bearing 

 year by year their little burden of fruit destined to grow 

 for purely ornamental and " Italian " effect within doors at 

 the Villino. 



What a marvel would an orange be considered, had it not 

 become an object of our everyday life ! We take it as a 

 matter of course/ but how much poorer would the world 

 suddenly seem if oranges became henceforth unobtainable ! 

 And the lemon ! If lemons cost a guinea apiece, I once 

 heard a physician say who had a special experience of its 

 wide-reaching healing powers, then would mankind appre- 

 ciate the treasure it has at hand ! One-half of its being, 

 and by no means the less important, the rind, is deplorably 

 neglected. We deal with it as with a practically worthless 

 husk. If we more generally understood the value of its 

 ethereal oil, we might save ourselves many a spell of 

 unaccountable physical depression. I can personally testify 

 to numerous instances of feverish bouts cured solely by a 

 hot decoction of lemon zest. 



A similar virtue, by the way, seems to reside in the leaves 

 of the Citrus Limonum. In southern countriesespecially, 

 I am told, in Spanish Americathese leaves are obtainable 

 in the dry state, and used as a febrifuge and alternative 

 " tea/' or rather tisane, with marked results. 



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