140 Oranges and Lemons of India. 



round. The Malta lemon often nearly approaches this 

 character of perpetually flowering and fruiting. If 

 these two could be crossed, a variety of juicy acid 

 sadapkal might result, which would be extremely 

 desirable. 



In the hot weather, when the skin is acting pro- 

 fusely some people call for a peg. The moment this 

 is imbibed, a profuser skin action occurs. This to a 

 wise person would be enough to prove that although 

 a peg* is a valuable drink in case of exhaustion, 

 it is no remedy for thirst in the hot weather. Even 

 water alone, whether iced or uniced, is no remedy for 

 thirst in the hot weather ; no sooner do you drink a 

 tumbler of water, than it all comes out through the 

 skin, doing some good no doubt, but leaving your 

 thirst as it was, a few minutes before. Let the juice, 

 however, of either half a lemon, or a w r hole lime be 

 squeezed in a tumbler of water, and it will be seen 

 what a difference it makes in quenching thirst. I do 

 not know how the lemon juice acts, whether by con- 

 stricting the vessels which feed the sweat-glands, or 

 by other ways ; the fact, however, remains, that lemon, 

 lime, and sub-acid orange juice are good quenchers of 

 thirst. Just see then, how valuable fresh lemons and 

 limes would be in the hot weather, to everybody, but 

 more especially to European soldiers, among whom 

 there are now-a-days numerous teetotalers. The sick 

 in hospital, of all denominations, would be grateful for 

 a cool drink of lemonade, or orangeade. The latter 

 is rarely used ; but even in winter, a hot orangeade, to 

 a sick person, is very grateful. Few would, therefore, 

 deny that fresh lemons, limes, and oranges in the 

 hot weather, would be, not only very desirable, but 

 w r ould fetch a good price. 



* Brandy and soda-water. 



