The cultivation of the lemon is carried on in combination with orange-growing, and the rules adopted with the one are equally applicable to the other (see Oranges). The lemon bears fruit twice yearly. It flowers with the orange in May, and again, but not so plentifully, in the autumn. The fruit may be plucked and used at any time after it has attained a fair size, though it may be green ; but for convenience, it is gathered with the orange crop in September, for exportation, another lighter harvest being made in early winter. Many varieties are produced. The moat remarkable is the lustrato, which is obtained by gathering, while yet green, all but a few lemons from the tree. Those which are left monopolize the fruit-producing powers of the tree, and thus attain unusual size. They preserve their flavour for a long time, and bear sea voyages well. Statistics concerning the lemon trade are meagre, and generally confounded with oranges. Sicily takes the lead. The exports from Palermo in 1878 were 463,977 boxes, each containing about 350. Malaga, in 1878, shipped 31,930 boxes. Syra, in 1877, sent 120/. worth to the Danubian Principalities, and 124/. to Austria. Tripoli, in 1878, exported 5001. (including oranges). Mogador, in 1878, despatched 54 cases, value 601., to Great Britain. Our imports are classed with oranges (q. v.). The United States, in 1879, received at New York, 315,176,750 lemons, of which, 113,463,620 perished on the voyage. This enormous loss, and the low prices caused by a glut in the market, were the ruin of many producers and shippers in Sicily, whence America is chiefly supplied. The Florida orangeries are now supplying considerable numbers of lemons, the crop of 1879 being estimated at 344,498. The approximate London values are :—Naplea, 20-30s. a case ; Malaga, 28s.-32s. 6d. a box. The fruit yields a useful oil (see Oils—Lemon).
Limes (Fit., Limons).—Limes are the fruit of Citrus Limetta, a member of the orange family, The tree grows wild in the tropics, but does not flourish so far north as the Azores. It attains the greatest perfection in the W. Indies. The island of Montserrat has long had a reputation for the product, and the lime estates of Dominica are now yielding greater profit than any other kind of culture. The tree flourishes beet in good light soil, near the sea, and needs much moisture ; yet it is fruitful in soils that prove too poor and dry for cocoa or coffee. Protracted drought is particularly fatal to it. In Trinidad, it rarely recovers from a drought which is severe enough to cause a curling of the leaves. The means of irrigating in dry weather are, therefore, essential to success in lime growing. The trees are generally planted about 15 ft. apart. They require regular pruning, and to be freed from parasites during their early growth. They come into full bearing about 7 years after planting the seed. In Trinidad, the trees do uot, as a rule, remain fruitful over 15 years; but in Dominica, they may last longer. The harvest is heaviest in September-January ; but the Montaerrat plantations yield more or less throughout the year. The extraction of the juice is very simple. The fruit is carried to the manufactories, there by water-power, and passed through squeezing-rollers. The extracted juice from choice fruit is at once put into casks ; that of inferior fruit is boiled down to its original bulk, and sold for making citric acid. In 1874, Dominica exported 12,462 gal. of lime-juice, value 16001.; Jamaica, 107,558 gal., 53781., and 475 barrels of limes, value 1901. ; and Montserrat, 400-500 puncheons of juice yearly. New York, in 1879, imported 988 barrels of limes. The fruit-gardens of Florida produced 3739 bush. of limes in 1879; and, in the same year, the South Sea Islands exported 13,406 gal. of lime-juice, locally valued at
4471. Lime-juice is worth about Is. 3d.-1s. 9d. a gal.
Oranges (FR., Oranges ; GER., Pomeranzen).—The orange family (Aurantiacece) is a large and important one. Three of ita members, the lemon (Citrus Limonum), the lime (C. Limetta), and the citron (C. medico), have been already described. The bergamot (C. Bergamia) is cultivated for the sake of its essential oil (see Oils—Bergamot). The shaddoek or pompelmousse (C. decumana) and the forbidden fruit are varieties produced in small quantities for their edible fruits. Lastly there is the common orange (C. Aurantium [vulgaris]), whose culture will now he described. There are two marked varieties of the common orange—the bitter, Seville, or bigarade orange (var. amara); and the sweet, Portugal, or China orange (var. dulcis). Of the former, some 32 varieties are distinguished ; of the latter, 43.
The orange is said to be a native of N. India. A wild orange, growing in Sikkim, Gurwhal, and Khasia, is thought to be the parent of both sweet and bitter varieties. However that may he, the fruit is now commonly grown throughout the tropics of both hemispheres. In Europe, its limit crosses the northern part of Spain and the extreme south of Provence, traverses Italy a little above Florence, descends nearly to Greece, and, passing Cyprus, enters Asia. Throughout the Mediterranean basin, and the Azores, orange-culture flourishes. W. Africa has recently taken up the industry. China and Japan produce some of the choicest varieties. In several of the Australian Colonies, and in Fiji, the culture is well established. The W. Indies are now producing very large quantities; and the Gulf States, California, Mexico, and Brazil, must not be omitted.
The tree needs a humid soil, with a warm, somewhat moist, regular, and calm climate ; sudden changes of temperature are especially injurious. The best method of propagating is by young plants produced from wild seed, upon which are grafted shoots of cultivated trees, when they are about 8-9 years old. Meantime the land must he kept clean, and manured. At 4 years, the plants are removed to 2 ft. apart, and, at 7-8 years, to 34 ft. After 2-3 years more, the grafting takes place ; 2 years later, the trees are finally transplanted ; and 3 years afterwards they should yield a first crop. The distance apart at the last planting varies from 13 ft. in the Neapolitan Provinces, to 25 ft. in Trinidad. In the Azores, 25-30 ft. is the common figure, the intervening space being occupied by melons, &c. Much depends upon the amount of pruning, the object being to admit plenty of air and light. When the tree has borne fruit for 6 years, it is considered full grown, and may then be expected to continue prolific for 60-70 years. Plantations require digging over twice a year, taking care not to injure the surface-feeding rootlets. Hollows are left at the feet of the trees, to receive manure, and collect moisture. Bees should always be kept on orangeries, as the honey is superior. The trees bear fruit once a year. At least 6 months are required to ripen the fruit ; but it is usually gathered while yet green, packed separately in very thin paper, and stowed into boxes, ready for shipment, as it ripens after being picked. The trees are principally valued for the fruit, that of the sweet kind being eaten fresh, while that of the bitter is made into marmalade (see Food Preservation). Orange-flower water (see Perfumes Orange-flower) is made when the trees are sufficiently numerous ; another perfume (see Perfumes —Orange-zeste) is made from the rind of the sweet orange ; and the leaves are frequently used for scenting rooms. The timber is much valued for inlaid work.