LEMON, a small tree or spreading shrub (Citrus lin)onia) of the family Rutacew. It is a native of India, but has been introduced into tropical and subtropical countries through out the world, especially those of the Mediter ranean region, whence it was' imported into Florida and California. In Florida the cold wave of 1894-95 destroyed most of the orchards, leaving only those in the southernmost coun ties, the soil of which is poorly adapted to the trees and must be carefully mulched, fertilized and managed to yield profitable returns. In California the lemon was introduced about 1850, but did not become commercially import ant until the closing quarter of the 19th cen tury, during the last 10 years of which the annual shipments to Eastern markets averaged about 1,200 carloads, although half of the 400,000 trees had not yet reached bearing age. The climate is perfect, but the water supply is deficient, so that the orchards must be irrigated. The fruit is one of the most important grown in the United States, since, in addition to its value' in food and drink, the citric.acid of its juice is used upon a commercial scale by calico printers, who by its aid remove iron from pat terns stamped with certain dyes, and the oil or extract distilled from the rind is serviceable in perfumery, for flavoring, etc.
Owing to its spreading habit the tree must be carefully pruned, else it will make the neces sary cultivation impossible, and will result in bearing fruit at or near the ends of long willowy branches. The trees are usually set about 20 feet apart each way, given clean culti vation and fertilization like the orange (q.v.). The fruit, which ripens during the winter, is cut, not pulled, green as soon as it is two and one-quarter inches in diameter, the picker carry ing a gauge. These details have been found necessary since lemons ripened on the tree are of inferior quality and will not keep well, and since the market demands lemons in the sum mer. The fruit is spread in shallow trays and stored in a well-ventilated curing-house where by careful management it develops the charac teristic yellow skin, which also becomes tougher, thinner, more pliable and silky and less liable to injury in handling. When properly man aged, lemons are profitable, and because of the constant demand are more reliable than any other of the citrus fruits.