The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-09-01
The CitronS.

,-oduces as fine citrons, says u. T.
fIOl 'I ,ba Independent, as any OF those
, "@-T- from China, Persia .ne
M Indies. Madeira, Sicily, Corscia, OF Tue
"es' 49,. 1-, nsrts of Spain and Italy. But the
wal - =. has not been properly recognized
Hoi' = -,,,rstad for commercial purposes.
anu nvother little known fruits or this
LiA9 -, -.a+s the citron shrubs grow luxuri-
sunny Elected gardens and hammocks,
1ja,dinp abundant fruits year aiter year,
- 70 fall and decay. A few OF tne oes.
us are preserved by the natives OF
IIu-ts for home use, but none have yet
- ~4,,r.d 10 cultivate the citron on a large
w. Cor nroft. Judging from the quaint
So e -raserved citrons that are imported
'i09 1-rited States from across the ocean,
:. nrorld seem that small fortune awaited
.sa euterprising horticulturist that made
.bo first effort to supply the home market
with their fruits.
The citron plant belongs to the citrus
,.,,,1v along with the orange, lime and
lles"3jocE. and It resembles the latter very
spao os in anDaarance. 1t is a small shrub
m u. sanatines attains hight of eight feet
!ue o. eastern countries, but it rarely grows
H. ~ ~ than six feet ia Florida. The wild
t-aS2isries are scraggy looking shrubs; but
.,,Itivated plants make very DeautlIuI
ignorance with their large, pale-green
Idayes and flowers Of purple and white, or
large golden fruit. The fruits are large
20, "in5ost the size of pumkins-with deeply
el,Lro,yed thick skin, of pale yellowish
hue When ripe the pendant fruits bend
the branches down almost TO the ground,
snd very frequently they become so heavy
,bst the branches break under the strain.
When the fruit is broken open one realizes
.bor FOR the first time how thick the skin is
In fact. the skin constitutes large part or
The frnit. the pulpy lobes inside being not
much larger than those of grape fruit
The skin, however, is valuable part or the
citron. and can be utilized IN several ways
When the outside yellow, or the rough
coat. is peeled off, the thick white rild Is
preserved with sugar, and most delicious
sUeetmeat made. This is the way that the
citron of commerce is usually prepared for
market. The rind also yields two perfumes
oil of cedra and oil of citron. These oils
are greatly valued by some as perfumes,
and in man of the Oriental countries they
orc used extensively. The pulp is sub-acid
and edible, but very few relish it at first.
Citron trees are now grown prottably
in Florida for several reasons. AS orna-
mental trees or shrubs they are greatly
prized, and a few of the shrubs around
dwelling greatly enhances the attractive
ness of the place. For producing fruits for
canning and preserving they are unsur-
passed, and should be in the gardens of all.
They can sometimes be used for perfumery
in the raw state. When placed in apart
ments they are very fragrant, and scent up
the whole room.
Cultivation of the citron shrubs is not
difficult for they will continue to thrive
without any care after they have got a
good start: but they respond to the generous
influence of good cultivation by producing
larger and better fruits and shrubs of a
brighter aud prettler appearance. Some Of
the half wild neglected shrubs that may be
met with in the state show the woeful re-
suits of careless and inattention, and instead
of being pretty. desirable shrubs, they are
eye-sores to all beholders In planting the
citron plants they should be placed at least
fifteen or twenty feet apart either way, and
the ground between them can be cultivated
for other crops. The soil should be well
worked and mellowed before the shrubs are
planted, or if grown from seed the hills
should be worked and fertilized with muck
or phosphates. When the shrub first pushes
itself above the surface soil some protection
IuuSL D6 dIIOTu0u IL III Lie WlQD6I UltI1e. L ne
citron plants are more tender than the
orange and lemon trees, and therefore they
need some protection in the winter even
when the plants have attained their full
growth. If checked by cold the young
shrubs growth may be deferred indefinitely,
and when full grown a severe cold wave
way have the effect of preventing the fruit
from maturing. But when not checked by
cold the bushes bear continuously. Protec-
ton can easily be arranged for if one has
little ingenuity. A body of water or belt
OF woods on the north side of the grove
will frequently prove sufficient protection,
and In the extreme southern part of the
state there is need of nothing else for this
purpose. The shrubs should be trimmed
after the manner of pruning ali shrubs.
The inside OF the bushes should be kept
clean, and the outside branches trimmed in
such way that none but the productive
limbs are left. If grown for Ornamental
ton, as well as for fruit, the shrubs can be
pruned after some design, but this should
be done only when effect rather than utility
is desired