482 BOTANY OF CROP PLANTS 



inches long, light yellow when mature, its skin medium- 

 thick, the pulp abundant and acid, and the juice sacks long 

 and pointed. The fruit requires about nine months to 

 reach maturity. 



Geographical. — The lemon is probably a native of India. It is cultivated 

 extensively in the Mediterranean region, and to a considerable extent in Cali- 

 fornia and Florida. 



Colpr of Lemon Fruit— Lemons are picked when they 

 reach a size demanded by the market, regardless of the 

 ■degree of maturity. Hence many of the lemons, when 

 picked, are dark green, and not the lemon-yellow of those 

 we buy in the market. The fruit is colored and ripened be- 

 fore shipment. If they are not to be shipped for several 

 months, they are placed in storage houses where coloring 

 and ripening goes on gradually. However, if they are to be 

 shipped soon after picking, the coloring process is hastened. 

 This is done by putting them in "sweat rooms" that are 

 kept at a temperature between 90° and gs°F. The proper 

 . color is obtained by this treatment within four to six days. - 



Uses.- — Lemons are used in the home for lemonade, as an 

 ingredient in a number of prepared foods, as a stain-remover, 

 and as a bleaching agent. One of the chief uses of lemons 

 is in the manufacture of lemon extract. 



Lemon Extract. — This ranks second to vanilla extract in 

 the quantity consumed. Sicily now produces the world's 

 supply of lemon oil. Cull lemons are utilized for the pro- 

 duction of the oil. Lemon extract is made by dissolving 5 

 parts of lemon oil in 95 parts of strong alcohol. Lemon oil 

 is secreted by special cells in the outer surface of the rind. 

 About 95 per cent, of the lemon oil produced is obtained from 

 the lemons by the sponge method, the remainder by the 

 machine method. There are two sponge methods, known as 

 the two-piece, and three-piece sponge methods. In the former 



