Orange and Lemon Trade of India. 169 



French there call it Citron, as they do the lemon in 

 France. 



The Malta lemon is now known and grown in 

 many places. It is one of the easiest to grow, and 

 has thrived wherever it has been tried; its fruit is 

 one of the most useful for various purposes. No trade 

 in lemons, however, has yet grown up. The bajouras, 

 or citron-lemons, on account of their thick skin, are 

 never likely to be much used, except for their peel. 

 On the contrary, the lemon, besides being of a con- 

 venient size, has a thin skin, and is full of a fine 

 flavoured acid juice. 



In the Punjab they have a large sour lemon, about 

 two or three times larger than the Malta lemon. It is 

 called gulgul. It is a very good lemon where a large 

 quantity of juice is wanted at one time, or for making 

 lemon jelly, or bottled lemon juice. They have a 

 somewhat similar one in Kumaon, which is there 

 called " Kumaon lemon." It is also found in Saha- 

 ranpore, and I have been told that during the month 

 of April it is largely sold in Mussoorie. There are 

 other sour lemons, but they are not common. 



All these lemons would keep well if left on the 

 trees, a certain number on each tree, so as not to 

 prevent the spring flowers from setting. Natives are 

 always in too great a hurry to gather and sell their 

 fruit. If left on the trees till the hot weather, espe- 

 cially where there are extensive groves, these sour 

 lemons would vastly increase in value. 



In my opinion the Citrus trade of India, although 

 many of its varieties are almost indigenous to this 

 country, is absurdly small. It would admit of great 

 expansion, with profit to the grower and the con- 

 sumer, and now, with the network of Indian railways, 

 there are few places to which they might not be 



