Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-07-07

Sicily Still the Ssfeat Source Of supply.
Enormous Increase in Consumption.

From the New York Tribune.
A Tribune reporter called on one OF the largest
dealers in fruit in the United States yesterday
to get some Information about the lemon trade.
"Nearly all the lemons handled In this mar
ket," said the dealer, ''are imported. Sicily
contributes mare than all other countries put
together. Calabria, iMessina and Palermo send
out large consgnments. There are four crops
each year. The lemons are cut from the trees
when green and placed In magazines where they
are subjected to a sweating or purging process.
AT the end Of four or five days the fruit Is
either stored away In shallow trays or packed
for shipment. Lemons gathered in November
and December have the best keeping qualities.
have kept lemons OF this cut from November till
June without destroying their market value.
When the fruit arrives here it Is sold at auction,
this being the only way in which lemons and
oranges are sold to the trade. One year ago
steamer arrived with cargo of sc, 600 boxes.
The entire lot was disposed OF the same day.
Unless the broker or dealer wishes to sell his
purchase at once the fruit Is put away and
ripened by steam heat"
''Is it true as reported that sulphur is en-
ployed to give green lemons the appearance Of
ripeness2" asked the reporter.
mot that am aware of, and think ought
to know. Such q process would hurt the keep
ing qualities OF the fruit. which Of course would
be a serious matter"
"Our business has entirely changed since the
Introduction of steamers. The voyages by the
old sailing fruiters were long and uncertain. A
cargo Of decayed lemons was the frequent re-
suit OF voyage of several months Now, with
the rapid transportation at his command, the
shipper can allow his lemons to remain on the
| trees many weeks longer than he could then,
| and Is quite certain that on arriving at this
market the fruit will be in good condition
'The best and consequently the highest case
lemons come from Sorrento. Great care is be-
slowed upon their cultivation. The fruit Is long
and smooth and has a beautiful golden color.
| These lemons are considered luxury in Paris,
| where they are used not only by confectioners
| and bakers, but also by decorators. Generally
speaking, a medium-sized, thin-skinned lemon
| is the best. The large, coarse grained variety
are the poorest and cheapest.
| ''The United States consume more lemons in
| year than all other countries combined Rus
STA comes next. The custom the Russians have
of drinking their tea with a slice of lemon in it,
accounts for the large consumption there. The
growth of the lemon trade in this country dur
| ing the last thirty years, has been enormous. In
| 1850 liz, GOO boxes were imported. Last year
this number had increased ], 342, 600 boxes. The
summer is our best season. There Ia one more
fact about the lemon and general fruit trade
that is worthy Of notice The people in the far
west will not buy any but the choicest fruit 1t
makes no difference what the prices are; they
| will buy It,"
''It has been reported that Blood oranges
have been manufactured by INSCRIPTIONS deal
ers out OF ordinary fruit by introducing an ana
line dye within the pulp Of the orange. Do you
| think this can be true?'
"No, do not, replied the dealer. ga pune
ture could not be made in the rind OF an orange
| without injuring it,, The fruit would begin to
decay at once at the point where the incision
had been made. This would prevent the dealer
from realizing profit on his oranges unless dis
posed Of immediately