CHAP. II. DESSERT FRUITS. 227 



2. Burtons : peculiar for the large beak with which the fruit 

 terminates. 



3. The (so-called) large Lemon. 



4. The NINGPO : plants and seeds of this were sent in the year 

 1854 by Mr. Fortune from China, with the following remarks:* 



" I draw your attention more particularly to the Ningpo Lemon, 

 a fruit which is much esteemed by the Chinese on account of its 

 fragrance. In the autumn, when this fruit ripens, it is met with 

 in all the houses of the rich. An ornamental plate of old China, on 

 a stand, is filled with the fruit piled one above another, and placed 

 upon a table in the hall or reception-room ; here it remains for 

 several weeks, and diffuses a delicious perfume throughout the 

 house." 



The plants sent by Mr. Fortune have never yet fruited since 

 they have been introduced. 



Plants of all varieties of the Lemon may be raised from pips 

 or by layering. 



Citrus medica. 

 CITRON. 



Beg-Poora. 



The fruit of this tree is well known for its great size, as well 

 as for its dense spongy rind, from the external portion of which 

 such excellent preserve or marmalade is made ; the leaves are 

 peculiar in. not having, like most of the Citrus genus, winged 

 footstalks. There are three well-distinguished varieties met 

 with in this country, and possibly there may be more that I am 

 unacquainted with. The fruits all terminate in a blunt-pointed 

 beak. 



1. The Common Citron, of the size of an ostrich egg, or some- 

 what larger, much knobbed and warted. 



2. A Citron of enormous size, full a foot or more long. This 

 seemingly is the kind known in Europe as the Poncire. 



3. The fingered Citron, a curious fruit, resembling a man's 

 hand with the fingers bent up with cramp ; not uncommon in 

 the North- West Provinces, but I have not seen it near Calcutta. 

 It has been stated that the rind of this variety is very fragrant, 

 and that the Chinese place it on dishes in their apartments to 



* ' Agri-Hort. Soc. Journal/ ix. 100. 



Q 2 



