THE SICILIAN LEMON INDOSTRY — GATHERING, ETC. 



221 



and when the last layer of lemons is put on, the outside fruit 

 stands about half an inch above the sides of the box, but the 

 middle is fully three inches above. The boxes are made of 

 very thin beech wood, and in order to make them hold together 

 wooden hoops are nailed over. It requires much skill to 

 fasten down the lids, for it involves the bending of the cover, 

 and the elasticity of the wood is sufficient to occasionally 

 draw out the nails. When nailed down this elasticity pre- 

 vents any movement of the fruit, and allows for shrinkage, 

 which is, however, not great after the lemons have been 



Assorting and packing lemons in Sicily, showing lined baskets used for the purpose. 



stored. Lemons cut in November and packed three hundred 

 in a box will by February have shrunk so that three hundred 

 and sixty will pack into the same box. It is this November 

 crop (ripening in November near the coast, and on to Febru- 

 ary on the mountains) which keeps the best, so that shipments 

 of 'it are frequentlv made to New York up to May. It is this 

 crop, but not usually the first grade of it, which is sent to 



Australia. 



The subject dealt with in this chapter is of considerable 

 importance, and I regret that my inquiries have not enabled 

 me to give readers a simple, cheap recipe for storing lemons 



