THE WEST INDIAN LIME. 



185 



rinds with little juice ; again, some are found to contain from five to ten 

 seeds, whilst others possess but one or two ; again, some are perfectly 

 round and smooth in outline, whilst others are lemon-shaped, possessing 

 very coarse rinds. 



If these difi'erent varieties were carefully worked up, and their qualities 

 noted and named, it would then be possible for planters to make a 

 selection of named varieties and plant only those trees which possess 

 qualities most suitable for their special purpose. We have at the present 

 time some dozens of named varieties of oranges, all possessing different 

 qualities and growing true to name ; and what has been accomplished 

 with the orange can be accomplished with the lime. 



It is very gratifying to know that some slight attention is being given 

 to this matter by so able a department as the United States Department 

 of Agriculture. 



I am greatly indebted to Mr. Herbert J. Webber, officer in charge of 

 the Plant-breeding Investigations of the United States Department of 

 Agriculture, for a copy of a paper in which he describes the results of 

 his labours in this direction. 



Mr. Webber states :— *"Outof eighteen hybrids of West Indian 

 lime, with pollen of Sicily lemon, sixteen of the seedlings show only lime 

 characters, while two show by their foliage a true effect of the hybridiza- 

 tion. Neither of these true hybrids has fruited ; but the majority of the 

 sixteen false hybrids, which show no effect of the hybridization, have 

 fruited. 



" Some of the hybrids between the W^est Indian lime and Sicily lemon, 

 which are true limes in all characters, are excellent fruits, and, while 

 other seedling limes can doubtless be found which are just as good as 

 those, it is thought desirable to name two of them which are believed to 

 possess characters of merit. 



" One of the hybrids selected gives uniformly a small fruit, while the 

 other has a rather large fruit for a Hme, approaching the size of an 

 ordinary lemon." 



The former has been named ' The Palmetto Lime ' and the latter 

 * The Everglade Lime.' Mr. Webber does not suppose " that these 

 varieties are superior to some of the seedling trees which could be found 

 in various places, but there are very few named varieties, and these are 

 simply two good limes that can be propagated from with a knowledge of 

 their characters." These new varieties will doubtless be watched with 

 great interest by lime planters. 



Much improvement may be made by careful selection, propagating 

 only from seed obtained from the fruit possessing the best qualities. 

 This is a work in which all owners of lime estates could greatly assist, 

 and the results in a few years' time may be far-reaching. The object 

 to be obtained should be the production of a lime of a good size, say 

 about 19 cm. (7J inches) in circumference or 5 cm. (2 inches) in diameter, 

 round in outline, possessing a thin, smooth rind, full of juice, rich in citric 

 acid, and containing not more than two seeds. All this and more is 

 possible by careful breeding, requiring but patience, skill, and time on the 

 part of the operator. 



* U.S. Department of Agriculture. 



