200 THE BOOK OF USEFUL PLANTS 



useful fruits is distinct, and lemon-growing is an 

 important industry in Florida and southern Cali- 

 fornia. England gets lemons chiefly from the 

 Mediterranean citrous districts and the West 

 Indies. 



Lemons lose quality by hanging on the trees 

 after they reach fair size. They are picked green, 

 and from that moment "must be handled as care- 

 fully as eggs. " In dark, but well-ventilated store- 

 houses the fruit is slowly cured and attains its 

 yellow color. The next step is the washing that 

 removes dirt that the oily surfaces accumulate. 

 From the washing machines, the fruit is dried, and 

 then shipped or stored. There is no reason for 

 hurrying lemons to market. Fruit picked in 

 December will keep till July, if properly stored in 

 airy boxes. 



The Lime is a small green lemon with sour juice 

 that furnishes a most refreshing beverage. The 

 home of the species is northern India, whence it 

 has been carried into the West Indies and Mexico, 

 in this country, and widely scattered in Asia and 

 Europe. England imports a great deal of lime 

 juice. The varieties come true from seed. The 

 plants are dwarfs, and are often planted as hedges. 



The Pomelo^ called "grape-fruit," because of 

 the grape-like fruit clusters, is the largest of all 



