THE LIME IN CALIFORNIA CHARACTERISTICS. 235 



THE LIME. 



'Citrus limetta, Risso. 



The lime is naturally a straggling bush or tree, and is 

 frequently trimmed into hedge form; it grows from ten to fif- 

 teen feet high. The fruit is small, round or ovate, or depressed, 

 with a bitter rind. The juice is much " sharper " than that of 

 the lemon. 



The lime is more susceptible to injury from frost than the 

 lemon, and should not be planted except in locations absolutely 

 free from danger of frost, and on this account it is not grown 

 successfully except in the warm belts and sheltered localities. 



Since the Government placed a duty of one cent per pound 

 on foreign citrus fruits, very few limes are imported. This 

 should stimulate the planting of the lime in our suitable 

 localities. 



The lime is very easily propagated from seed. The seeds 

 always germinate without much difficulty, and the plants 

 come true from the seed; the seeds " sport" only in exceptional 

 cases. It is also budded on the orange. 



The tree does not resent pruning as the lemon does, and may 

 be fashioned into any shape to please the fancy of the grower. 

 It is well, however, to consider the natural habit of the tree 

 and to leave it as much in bush form as possible. The lower 

 limbs that rest on the ground and all superfluous and interfer- 

 ing wood should be removed. 



The methods of planting and cultivating the lime are similar 

 to those required for the lemon. Like the latter, the fruit 

 should be picked before it ripens, but does not require process- 

 ing before being shipped to market. Lime trees are planted 

 fifteen or sixteen feet apart, and begin to bear at the fourth 

 year, being in full bearing at eight. 



