FRUIT CULTIVATION 155 



and gastric digestion." This fruit has not yet become well-known 

 in the East, though it is sometimes met with in gardens. 

 A seedless variety has recently been discovered which promises to 

 be valuable. Propagated by grafting, budding, or from seed. 

 There are several varieties. 



Citrus acida. Lime; "Dehi"S. "Dhaisi-kai" T. A small spiny 

 tree, cultivated in all tropical countries for its acid juicy fruit. 

 The latter varies in size, degree of acidity, and juiciness, also in 

 shape from almost round to egg-shape. The lime-fruit is used by 

 all races for flavouring and other culinary purposes ; it is largely 

 employed for the manufacture of cooling drinks, especially lime- 

 juice cordial, whilst it is also of much importance in native 

 medicine. Applied externally, it is valued as a cure for snake- 

 bites. Limes are grown as a commercial product in some West 

 Indian Islands, and the export of concentrated lime-juice and 

 citrate of lime (in casks) forms the chief industry of Dominica.* In 

 Ceylon, limes are in season practically all the year round, and are 

 at all times sold in the boutiques and m irkets. The tree thrives 

 up to 2.000 ft. elevation, preferring a light marly soil with good 

 drainage. It is propagated by seed (pips), or preferably by bud- 

 ding or grafting on stocks of a vigorous growing kind ; plants thus 

 raised should come into bearing at three years old. 



VARIETIES. Among the principal varieties recognised in India are : 

 " Patee " (a small round fruit, much esteemed). "Kaghuzee" (of the size 

 of a hen's egg, in most general cultivation). " Gora " (a small oval fruit 

 much cultivated), " Kamuralee" (a large handsome fruit, of pale lemon 

 colour, about the sixe of a small coconut), " Rungpore" {a round smooth- 

 skinned fruit), and "Taba" (a large globose, spongy fruit). The 

 " Kaffir Lime " in Ceylon is almost the si/e of a lemon, with a warty, 

 coarse skin. 



Spineless Lime. A sport of the ordinary Lime, said to have originated in 

 Dominica in 1891. the stems and branches being without the usual for- 

 midable spines. 



Seedless Lime. In recent years several varieties of limes have been raised 

 whose fruits are almost, if not quite, free from seed. The " Persian 

 Seedless" or "Tahiti Lime" is reported as being the chief variety 

 in Cuba; this is said to be a prolific bearer, the fruit containing a high 

 percentage of citric acid. 



C. Limetta. Sweet-lime. This is a distinct species or variety, 

 the fruit of which is of the form of a moderate-sized orange, with 

 smooth pale-green rind. It has a sweetish, instead of an acid, taste 

 and is considered very refreshing and agreeable. The tree is used 

 largely in parts of India for budding the Orange upon. 



c The trees are planted at average distances of about 12 by 15 ft., and a yield of about 120 

 barrels fruit per acre is considered a good average. 



