285yr old Lemon

[nofspeppers]

Just saw that someone bought a 285 year old Lemon for $1780 in England. But are the seeds viable? And who inscribes their citrus fruits? Outside of the novelty of it being old, seems like there's not much to do with it, unless the seeds would be viable.

Here's the story if you don't want to click through the link:

Jan. 31 (UPI) -- A 285-year-old lemon found in the back of an old cabinet drawer was auctioned for $1,780 in England.

Brettells Auctioneers in Shropshire said a 19th century cabinet was brought to the auction house by a family who said it had belonged to a deceased uncle.

A specialist was photographing the cabinet for sale when the lemon was discovered in the back of a drawer.

The fruit was inscribed with the message: "Given By Mr P Lu Franchini Nov 4 1739 to Miss E Baxter."

The auction house decided to attempt to sell the aged lemon, and officials were shocked when it fetched a high bid of $1,780.

The cabinet, meanwhile, sold for just $40.

story link: https://www.upi.com/Odd_News/2024/01/31/old-lemon-auctioned-Brettells/6001706723000/

actual photos are on their instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/C2J-dhSIA8i/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading&img_index=6

[Lauta_hibrid]

The Riverside varieties are quite old and were reproduced by grafting (that is, it is as if they were branches of the original tree).  For example, limequat is from 1909, meaning any limequat tree would be that age.  So a lemon from that time would not differ enough from a current lemon.  Lastly, the seeds would not be viable, it is too old and citrus trees do not like the seeds to dehydrate.

[Millet]

Lauta is correct. The seed are long past dead.   The buyer of the lemon must have a lot of extra cash.

[nofspeppers]

Interesting! Wonder why it went for so much then

[Daintree]

It’s an antique. No telling what a collector would want.

[Galatians522]

After reading this I have decided to place citrus fruits having inscribed messages in all unused cabinet space. Sounds like a good investment. At $6.25 increase a year, a few bushels should give me some good money to spend in retirement.

[Fygee]

Forbidden lemonade...