4 



On the Varieties of the Citrus. 



[Appendix. 



and Media are distinctly named, as their native countries. Thence 

 the Romans called this fruit the Assyrian or Median Apple 

 (Malum* Assyrium, seu Medicum) ; and consequently, the tree 

 Mains Assyria, seu Medica. 



We cannot admit, that this tree was brought into Italy, and 

 there cultivated, so early as the time of the elder Pliny. For this 

 author, in speaking- of it (N. H. xii. 7. ed. Bip.) observes, that it 

 would not grow any where, but in Media and Persia ;t and that 

 the attempt of transferring it to other climes had proved vain. 

 He mentions, that it was medicinally used against poisons ; and 

 of the fruit he says expressly, that it was not eaten, but served, as 

 well as the leaves, for a perfume : the kernels, he adds, were, in 

 particular, employed by the Parthians, to sweeten the breath. 

 The Citrus tree (arbor citri), which likewise comes under our 

 genus Citrus, and is perhaps that species, or variety, to which 

 Dr. Sickler gives the name of Cedrate, is recorded by Pliny 

 (N. H. xiii. 29. ed. Bip.) as a native of Mauritania and Cyrenaica, 

 in Africa. He only knows it for the value of its wood, of which 

 the most precious and expensive tables were made ; and subse- 

 quently (c. 31.) he notices a variety of it, alia arbor eodem 

 nomine, which bore a fruit (pomum)% of a strong smell, and 

 bitter taste. But it is manifest from the tenour of Pliny's language, 

 that he was but imperfectly, or distantly acquainted with those 

 productions ; and that, far from being cultivated, they were 



* Dr. Sickler is right in supposing, that the appellation Malum was given to this 

 fruit, in imitation of the Greek rftev (Melon or Milon) ; for Pliny remarks (N. H. 

 xii. 7. ed. Bip.) that the Romans borrowed similar terms from the Greeks. And 

 Dr. Sickler's conjecture, that the modern words Lemon, Limon, Limone, may be an 

 inversion of the Greek Melon, or Milon, is ingenious, 

 f Sed nisi apud Medos et in Perside nasci noluit. 



% In the Elenchvs, or Table of Contents, which forms part of Pliny's first book, 

 it is called Malum citreum, ed. Bip. Vol. i. p. 44. 



