40 [ THE LIME. 



blossoms being specially abundant. The juice supersedes 

 very well that of the lemon, being sometimes preferred 

 on account of its slightly bitterish flavour. 



2. The SWEET LIME. (M.=r lumicella). The tree 

 is middling but makes rapid growth, attaining full size in 

 a few years, and is a perpetual bearer, flowering three 

 or four times in the year. The fruit is rounded, with a 

 large navel, more or less obtuse, with a deep groove 

 around it. The peel is rough, and chrome yellow at 

 maturity, with a delightful fragrance, and on that 

 account it is often used for flavouring. The juice is sweet 

 without any trace of acidity, but is devoid of aroma. A 

 sport of this variety, bearing smaller and more numerous 

 fruits, is also cultivated. 



3. The SMALL CHINA LIME. (M.=Ltmetta tal 

 China]. The tree is small or middling, making a dense 

 growth and is very thorny. The leaves are small and 

 elongated. The flowers are very small, and are succeeded 

 by very small, egg-shaped fruits, with a flattened and 

 often indistinct navel. The peel is thin lemon-coloured. 

 The juice is abundant, and very acid. The fruit is 

 suitable for the same uses as the lemon, but is liable to 

 drop from the tree soon after maturity. 



4. The LARGE ACID LIME (unnamed). The tree 

 is fairly large, with lime-like, dark green, pointed 

 foliage. The blossoms are small and white, occasionally 

 faintly tinged pink on the outside, thus showing that 

 there is some admixture of lemon blood. The fruit 

 is large, perfectly oval, with a large blunt navel. The 

 rind is thin and soft, canary-yellow. The pulp is greenish, 

 with very abundant juice, sprightly acid, containing very 

 few seeds, sometimes seedless. The original tree exists 

 in the garden of Count Sant Fournier at Casal Lia. 



