Citric Acid.

IMG:content-0205.png:[graphic] citron-tree. Citronelle', in Alabama, a post-village of Mobile co., 33 m. N.N.W. of Mobile. Cit'ron-tree. n . ( Bot . ) The Citrus medic a . See CITRUS. Cit'rul, n. ( Bot . ) The Pumpkin. See CUCURBIT A. Vit'rus, n. ( Bot .) A genus of plants, order A urent i ace a. The different species and varieties of this genus yield the fruits known under the names of orange, lemon, lime, shaddock, pompelmous, forbidden fruit, kumquat, and citron. The species C. Aurantium (fig. 239), and its varieties, produce all the various descriptions of sweet oranges. C. Bigaradia , or vulgar is , yields the bitter, or Seville orange. The orange-tree is remarkable for its prolificne ; thus a single plant will sometimes produce as many as 20,000 good oranges. The small unripe fruits of C. Aurantium , as well as those of C. Bigaradia , are used for flavoring cur açoa, being called orange-berries; when polished in a lathe, they constitute the ordinary i ue- peas of the shops. The leaves of both species, when distilled with water, yield a volatile oil, which is called oil of orange-leaf, or e ence de petit grain . Their flowers yield the fragrant oil known as oil of Neroli , which is the most important ingredient in eau-de-Cologne. The distilled water of the flowers is named orange-flower water. By distilling the rind of the ripe, sweet orange with water, a fragrant oil, named e ential oil of sweet orange, is obtained. The rind itself is used in medicine as an aromatic, stimulant, and tonic. The juice of the fruit forms a refreshing beverage, and in medicine a valuable refrigerant. The bitter orange is chiefly used for making marmalade. Its rind yields a volatile oil called e ential oil of bitter orange, and is used medicinally, and for making candied orange-peel. C. Limonum and its varieties produce the fruits called lemons, the chief varieties of which are, the wax-lemon, the imperial lemon, and the Gaeta lemon. Both the rind and juice are employed in medicine, the former as an aromatic and stomachic, and the latter for its refrigerant and antiscorbutic effects. The juice contains a large quantity of citric acid, and is extensively used for flavoring; and to form the refreshing beverage called lemonade. The rind contains a large quantity of e ential oil, which is obtained from it by expre ion and by distillation, and is known as the e ential oil, or e ence of lemon. This oil is principally used as a flavoring agent in confectionery and medicine, and occasionally in perfumery. Candied lemon-peel is a common ingredient in puddings and cakes. C. Limettars produces the lime. Its juice is employed, with that of the lemon, in the preparation of citric acid. C. Medica yields the fruit called the citron, which is supposed to be the Hebrew tappuach . This word is translated in the English version of the Old Testament as "apple." The rind of the citron is imported in a preserved state, and is used in confectionery. The pulp is le acid and juicy than that of the lemon. Two e ential oils used in perfumery are obtained from C. medic a. They are named respectively e ence, or e ential oil of citron, and e ence of cedrat, or cedra. The citron, lime, and lemon are distinguished from the orange by their adherent rinds, their more lengthened form, and by the occurrence of a more or le prominent protuberance at the apex. С. Bergamia, which yields the Bergamot orange, so largely used in perfumery, is generally regarded as a mere variety of C. Limetta . (See BERGAMOT.) Besides the above fruits obtained from the genus Citrus , we have the shaddock, from the species C. decuman a ; the forbidden fruit, C. Paradisi; the pompelmous, from C. Pompelmous; and the kumquat of China, from C. Japonica . - The orange, lemon, lime, citron, and shaddock, are all succe fully produced in Florida, Louisiana, and California. Immense quantities are also imported from the West Indies. The citron is commercially known in the U. States as a preserved confection, imported from the Mediterranean in oblong boxes, weighing from 20 to 25 pounds each, and is used by families as an addition to fruit-cake, pies, . Citta Vecchia, (cheet'tă vekke-ǎ,) a strong inland town of Malta, 6 m. from Valetta; pop. 4,364. Cit'tern, n. ( Mus .) See CITHERN. Cit'tern-head, n . A dunce; a blockhead. (R.) Cit'y, n. [Fr. cité ; Lat. civitas civitatis , from civis , a citizen.] A town, or collective body of inhabitants, in- corp orated and governed by a mayor and aldermen. -The collective body of citizens, or the inhabitants of a city. "I do suspect I have done some offence That seems disgracious in the city's eyes." Shaks. -In England, a corporate town or borough; properly one which is, or has been, the seat of a bishop, or the capital of his episcopal see. a. Pertaining to a city; relating to a city.