THE CITRON. 41 



The Citron. Citrus medica. 



Like the preceding, this fine fruit only reaches us in a 

 preserved state, and then usually the rind only. Citron 

 rind either comes candied with sugar, or else pickled in salt 

 and water, for the purpose of being candied here; its use 

 in flavouring confectionery is well known. The citron is the 

 largest of the oval-shaped fruits of the genus Citrus, as the 

 Shaddock is of the round ones. Apparently it was the first 

 known of its genus. Carpenter, in his ' Scripture Natural 

 History/ supposes it is alluded to in the Old Testament 

 whenever the word apple is used, and it is thought to be the 

 fjbrjXov firjBi/cbv of Theophrastus ; its specific name medica 

 is supposed to be derived from Media, whence it is said to 

 have originated ; and not, as might be supposed, from any 

 medicinal virtues. We receive about 70 tons annually of 

 the preserved rind from Madeira. 



Besides the valuable fruits yielded by the genus Citrus, it 

 also furnishes us with large quantities of citric acid, of great 

 chemical importance, and the essential oils of orange and 

 lemon peels ; of orange flowers ( Oleum Neroli) ; of citron- 

 peel (Oleum Cetronella) ; of the Bergamot Orange (Oleum 

 Bergamota) ; and oil of the orange leaves, usually called 

 Essence de petit grain, — all of great value in perfumery. 



