332 VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



T/ie Lemon. 



of the Pyrenees, leaving everywhere traces of their 

 power and of their knowledge. The lemon, thus 

 transported by the Arabs into every part of their vast 

 empire where it would grow, was found by the cru- 

 saders in Syria and Palestine towards the end of the 

 eleventh century. By them it was introduced into 

 Sicily and Italy ; though it is probable that at the 

 same period it was already multiplied in Africa and 

 Spain.* Arabic writers of the twelfth century speak 

 of the lemon-tree as then cultivated in Egypt and 

 many other places. Matthew Silvaticus, a writer of 

 that time, says that the lemon was then spread over 

 all Italy. 



In the southern parts of Europe, where the lemon 

 is abundant, there are many varieties. 



The rind of the lemon is much smoother than 

 that of the citron ; the bark of the tree is less smooth. 



* Risso, p. 7. 



