206 



PLANTS AND MAN 



over twenty feet in height, and produce fragrant white blossoms 

 with a purpUsh tinge to the outside of the petals — a contrast to 

 the pure white orange flowers. Lemon trees are very susceptible 

 to frost and therefore are grown most successfully only in frost- 

 free portions of California and Florida. Italy and the United 

 States are the chief lemon raising countries. Lemons were an 

 important Florida crop until the fatal frost of 1895. California 

 now leads in their production, growing about eight million boxes 



f 



Fig. 145. — Lime fruits 

 small, greenish and with 

 exceedingly sour taste. 



are 



an 



Fig. 146. — Kumquats are 

 plum-sized fruits with spicy rinds 

 and acid flesh. 



annually. Lemons are formed on the trees during every month; 

 of the year, but the best picking is from December to March. 

 Lemons contain less sugar and more citric acid than either 

 oranges or grapefruit; for this reason they are used chiefly as a 

 juice and for flavoring. The production of lemon oil is an impor- 

 tant industry, since lemon oil ranks second only to vanilla as a 

 flavoring substance. 



The CITRON, a native of India, is the oldest of the citrus fruits, 

 with a recorded cultivation dating to the fourth century B.C. 

 Theophrastus describes its use in Babylon. Today citron is grown 

 in Corsica, Greece, Sicily and the West Indies; the United States 



