FOODS, FOOD-STUFFS, AND FOOD-ADJUNCTS. 53 



The ORANGE (Citrus Aurantium, Riss.) is more 

 largely imported than any other fruit. Introduced 

 into Europe apparently by the Moors, we import it 

 now from the Azores, Lisbon, Malta, Sicily, and 

 Florida, the St. Michael's being the smallest, and 

 the Maltese a seedless, variety. Hitherto the im- 

 ported fruit has, from the slowness of transport, 

 been gathered when unripe, so as never to reach 

 this country in perfection. The Seville Orange, used 

 for marmalade, is a distinct species (C. vulgaris, Riss.). 



The LEMON (C. medica, var. Limonum, Brand.), 

 said to have been introduced at the time of the 

 Crusades, is also largely imported. Of Lemons and 

 Oranges together we import over four million bushels. 

 The SWEET LIME (C. medica, var. acida, Brand.), also 

 an Indian variety, though now largely grown at 

 Montserrat for the sake of its juice ; the SHADDOCK 

 and POMALO, or ' Forbidden Fruit ' (vars. of C. 

 decumana, L.), and the CITRON (C. mcdica, Riss.), 

 which comes, mainly as candied peel, from Madeira, 

 are imported in far smaller quantities. 



The DATE (Phanix dactylifera, L.), the fruit of a 

 palm, borne in clusters of 20 Ib. weight or more, has 

 for ages been the chief article of food in parts of 

 North Africa and Arabia. It was probably the 

 Lotos of the Lotophagi (Lotos-eaters). The trees 

 are preserved as estates, and handed down as dowries. 

 Animals and men in Fezzan, where many varieties 

 are grown, live upon them for nine months of the 

 year. The sap of the young shoots is fermented 

 into ' arrack.' The fruit is imported in considerable 

 quantities. 



