Page:Willich, A. F. M. - The Domestic Encyclopædia (Vol. 3, 1802).djvu/124

106&#93; ic6] LI M of fiorhis to the Dutch, who culti- vate it with grc.u industiy. — lis riiCiily seeds and nwts have, in tinus of scarcity, been converted into bread ; and the grass itself, ■while young, afibrds proper food for cattle. LIMES, the fruit of a variety of the Citron-tree (which see) ; grow- ing abundantly in Jamaica, and other warm climates : it is the smallest production of the kind 3 has scarcely any pulp ; but con- tains a try sour juice, of a yellow greenish colour. On account of its strong acid, it is by the West Indians generally used as an ingre- dient in punch, though it is fre- quently produftive of the most alarming colics, especially the dry li'lhf-ach, of the cure of which we have already treated, p. Jd, under tile article Lead. The inspissated juice of limes possesses a ;tine flavour ; but, as it is one of the most corrosive acids, which is not suftered naturally to arrive at maturity, we cannot re- commend it for its salubrity. Ne- vertheless, the negroes in the West Lndies employ tins fruit with singu- lar success for the cure of " scor- butic swellings vi' the legs, and stains ■ of the skin, merely by rubbing the affeded legs, knees, and hams, three or four times a day, with a fresh-cut lime." The same remedy is used in Jamaica, for mitigating those violent pains in the bones, which precede the disorder called the vaivs. LIME-TREE, or TUla, L. a genus of trees consisting of seven species j the principal of which is the Europiea, Common Lirne-tree, or Linden- tree, growing in woods and hedges; flowering in the month of July. — In a rich soil, it attains a prodigious size, being sometimes LIM 20 feet in circumference, but fre- quently hollow : there are in- stances ot lime-trees having sur- vived 800 years, in dillerent parts of Germany. The linden -tree is erroneously supposed to be a native of Britain j for, according to Mr. Pennant, it was imported into England pre- viously to the year lt)52. — The blossoms of this tree are of a ^^'hit- ish colour, possess a fragrant smell, and supply the bees with tiie best honey. Whether fresh or dry, they easily ferment, and Makggr.f dis- tilled from them a very fine-fla- voured brandy. — ^The wood is soft, light, and smooth 5 close-grained, and not easily subject to be infested by the worm, if kept in dry places. It is used for making leather-cot- ters' boards, for carved work, and likewise for turnery-ware. — The leaves may be dried, and preserved as winter fodder, being eagerly eaten by sheep and goats. Cows also relish them in the autumn, but their milk thus acquires a very unpleasant ta^te. — Excellent ropes are niade of the inner-bark on the Continent, and which do not soil the linen suspended on them for drying : from the same substance the Russians manufacture mats, shoes, and other rustic garments. Linden cordage is so remarkably strong and elastic, that in this re^ spe<5l it is superior to iron chains. The lime-tree is remarkable for theexcrescences, oxgalls, which ap- pear on the edges ot its leaes dur- ing the spring : they are of an oblong irregular shape ; of a reddish co- lour, and occasioned by a worm that inhabits them while alive, and which was first discovered by Reaumur. These animo-vegC' table produftions being very nu-» merous, he was of opinion that xh.cy