it is filtered to separate the deposit known as limettin, 

 and the oil packed in casks or copper vessels is ready 

 for shipment. 



After the extraction of the essential oil, the citric acid 

 lemons are put through a mill consisting of a and citrate 

 scratcher that cuts them up and a pair of rollers of lime. 

 extracts all the juices; then through a strainer that 

 separates all foreign matter and leaves the juice 

 absolutely pure. The juice is then run into vats of 

 from six to eight hundred gallons capacitj-, and 

 brought to a boil by steam passing through copper 

 coils. When the product required is citric acid (or 

 concentrated lime-juice) the juice is boiled down to 

 one-tenth its original bulk. In the production of 

 citrate of lime it is brought nearly to a boil, mixed 

 with lime (of which there are large deposits in the 

 country) at the rate of half a pound of lime to a gallon 

 of juice, and left to settle, the citrate forming a firm 

 deposit at the bottom of the vat. The li(iuid at the 

 top is then run off. Subsequent washing and drj-ing 

 of the deposit completes the process of preparing 

 citrate of lime. Citric acid is shipped in barrels and 

 citrate of lime in boxes. 



Supplies of local lime are readily obtain- 

 able, but great care must be exercised to see 

 that it does not contain more than 2% of magnesia, as 

 the presence of magnesia in the lime in excess of 2% 

 lessens the value of the citrate. 



Fifty acres may be considered as the minimum capital 

 area justifying the cost of the extracting plant required. 

 required. But the intending planter, even if his 

 immediate aim is only a fifty acre plantation, would 

 be well advised to buy a larger area if his capital 

 pennits, as even if he does not require it for enlarging 

 his plantation later on (as probably he will) the 

 extra land will provide him with grazing for his trek 

 oxen and enable him to settle native families on his 

 land to provide labour as required. The price of land 

 suitable for citrus varies considerably according to 

 locality and natural features, ranging from £2 to £,\q 

 per acre. Above the cost of the land, ;£5oo working 

 capital would be required and a further ;£5oo for 

 machinery. These are the amounts reqviired, but it 

 is not essential that a man should have ;£i,5oo to 

 ;£2,ooo to engage in citrus growing. He may start 

 with very much less if he has had previous experience 



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