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988
sent over in tu b s ; these miglit be treated as directed for orange trees (4875.), and then planted in a
border of rich earth, submitted to a Jamaica climate, and flat-trained near the glass. By such tre a tment,
there can bo no doubt the akee tree would in a few years produce fruit as readily as tlie orange.
4D14. T/ie A llig a to r or Avocado P c a r is the i.a iir u s F ir s i'a h . {P lu k . A im . t. 207. f. 1 .); E n n c d n .
Muuog. L. and Ea&rina: B. P. It is a stove tree, which, in the West Indies, grows to the hi'ight of 30 ft.
or upwards, with a tru n k as large as that of our common apple tree. The leaves are, like those of
the laurel, of a deep green. T h e flowers are produced towards th e extremities of th e branches. The
fruit is the size of one of our biggest pears, and is held in great esteem in the West Indies ; the pulp
is of a pretty firm consistence, and has a delicate rich (liivour ; it gains upon the palate of most persons,
and becomes soon agreeable even to those who cannot lixe it at firs t; but it is so rich and mild, that
most people make use of some spice or pungent substance, to give it a poignancy ; and for this purpose
some make use of wine, some of lime-juice, but most of pepper and salt. Miller, from whom the above
account is extracted, cultivated it in 1739.
491.5. Pro p a g a tio n a n d c u ltu r e . Miller gives directions for raising the tre e from seeds, which, he says,
may be brought over in dry sand from the countries where it is cultivated. There is nothing uncommon
in the process of raising, which is conducted in a hotbed or p i t ; and when the plants have made their
summer shoots, they are removed to the stove during winter. But where it is intended to cultivate this
tree for its fruit, a better way would be to send to the Botanic Garden of St. Vincent’s, and request a few
stocks to be inoculated from bearing trees. These, being properly cased and packed, would arrive as safe
as orange trees usually do; might be treated like them when unpacked ; and planted in aborder of strong
rich soil, to be trained on a trellis or wall near the glass. After the plants were established, horizontal
training and ringing, accompanied by a Jamaica temperature, would soon produce fruit.
4910. The A n chov y P e a r is the G r ia s c a u lijlb ra L. {Sloan. H is t. 2. t. 217. f. 1 .2 .) ; P o ly d n . Monog. L.
and Guttifcrce J . { fig . 8.37.). It is a stove tree, frequently growmg to tho height of -50 ft. in the West
Indies, wnere it is a native. The leaves are oblong, and 2 ft. or 3 ft. long. T h e flowers numerous, on
short peduncles, large and whitish. The drupe is ovate, and crowned with a calyx like the pomegranate,
about the size ancl shape of an alligator’s eg g ; it is pickled and eaten like the East Indian mango,
which it greatly resembles in taste. It grows generally in low moist bottoms, or shallow waters, and has
a most elegant appearance. Introduced here from Jamaica in 17G8.
4917. P ro p a g a tio n a n d cuUure. It is very readily propagated from the stones, and the plants must be
kept in a moist heat. To grow it for fruit, plant in a border, and train horizontally near the light, as
directed for the avocado pear (4915.).
4918. T he D u r io n is the DClrio zebclh'/nus L . {R um p h . Am b . p .99.) ; Polyadc lph. P o ly d n . I/, and Gap-
HxdecB J. { fig . 838.). This is a lofty East Indian tree, with leaves resembling those o fth e cherry and
large bunches of flowers coming out below th e leaves, of a pale yellow colour. The fruit is the size o f a
man’s head, roundish or oblong, resembling in some degree a rolled-up hedgehog, with a hard bark or
rind ; the fleshy part of the fruit is of a creamy substance, and of a delicate taste, but of an unpleasant
heavy smell, somewhat resembling that of rotten onions ; and the smell of the breath of those who eat it
IS infected also m a high degree ; but when once a person has accustomed himself to eat o fth is fruit, he
generally considers it the most excellent of all. Rumphius says, it is by much the most excellent fruit
o. f India. The tree has nojtty yeettt rbteret.n.. ...i.n...t.r.Uo.d.Vu c..e d. ; but if a few fruit or plants were sent for from the
Calcutta garden, and submitted to the general plan of
culture for trees difficult to fruit, there can be no doubt of
success.
4919. The White G u a va is the P s td ium p y r tfe r um L.
{R um p h . Am b. 1. t.4 7 .); Icos.M onog. E . a n aM y r td c e iS 3 .
{ fig . 839.). It is a West Indian tree, growing to the height
of 7ft., 8 ft., or 12 ft.,with numerous branches,and blunt,
entire, smooth leaves, 2 in. or 3 in. long ; the flowers are
in solitary peduncles and sweet-smelling; fruit bigger
th an a hen’s egg, roundish or oblong, smooth, yellow;
th e nn d thin, brittle, and yellow ; pulp firm, full of bony
seeds, flesh-coloured, sweet, aromatic, and pleasant. It
is eaten with avidity both by West Indians and E u ropeans,
raw in th e dessert, and preserved with sugar.
It has been grown here as a stove plant since 1656 ; it is
propagated by seeds from ripe fruits brought over.
492(1. The R e d G u a va {V . p om ifc r um ) has a beautiful
fruit, crowned like a pomegranate ; but it is not so agreeable
to eat as the other. Both these kinds of guava have
been fruited in England.
4921. CattlEy's G u a v a ,V . CattleiaTinra. A new species,
introduced from China by Messrs. Barr and Brooks, n u rserymen,
and fruited b yW .C a ttle y , F. U .S ., in 1820.
The plant resembles the other species in general habit
and appearance ; but the fruit is larger, nearly spherical,
of a fine deep claret colour, growing in the axillae of the
839
leaves ; the skin has much th e consistence of that of a ripe fig, but is thinner • the interior fr n
next the skin, but becoming paler towards the middle,’and a t the centre it is
quite white ; it is juicy, and in consistence is much^like a strawberry, to which’it b e ^ some reV/m!
p. 317.)
the E u g e n ia
, it is juicy, and . . . __________
n flavonr. { ifo r t. T ra n s ., vol.iv. pi.
4922. The Jamrosade , or rosc-apple, is tl _
Jambos L . {B o t. M ag. 1696.) ; Icos. Monog. L. and'Myr-
7 / J - f r is a branchy tree, rising from20ft.
to 30 ft. high, with long narrow leaves not unlike those
q! the poach. The flowers come out in terminal bunches
in .July, are of a greenish yellow colour, and succeeded
by fruit about the size of a hen’s egg, white, red, and rose-
scented, with the flavour of a ripe apricot, and ripening
from September to December. It is a native of the East
Indies, ancl was cultivated here by Miller, in 1768. There
are several varieties of this tree, differing in the size and
colour of the fruit. I ’hat with white fruit has been cul-
^viiced by Professor Thouin in the National Garden at
Paris. This horticulturist endeavoured to harden the
tree by exposing it annually to the open air during the
two hottest months of the year ; but, after persisting in
tiiis mode of cultivation for several years, and finding the
leaves and part of the shoots die off annually, in consequence
of th e cold while exposed, he had recourse to a
hot and moist atmosphere, ancl was successful. {H o r t.
T ra n s ., v o l.i. App.) The rose-apple has fruited in
England.
4923. The M a la y Apple, is another species of E u g e n ia
{E .m a la c c e n s is ) {Rot. R e p . A'Jd.). The tree resembles
tlm former, but has broader leaves. The fruit is ovate,
IJ in . in diameter, fleshy, very sweet-smelling, like the
rose, agreeable to the taste, smell, and sight, and esteemed
wholesome. It is common in most of the islands in the South Sea, and was cultivated by Miller in 1768
^ “ ^7? {E . Psevdo-FsUium-) and the Cayenne Cherry {E . colinifòlia) produce
¿ ib l e fruits, held in considerable esteem in the West Indies, and, with the Malay annle annear to
deserve culture in this country. (S e e M ille r ’s D ie t.) > H > PP
4920. 'Ihe Cherimm/er (Anòna Cherimòlia, T r . ehr. 40. P o ly d n . P o lyg . L. and Anonàoeee J .) is a native
of South America, and was introduced, in 1739, under the name of A n b n a tripétala I I K T h e fruit is
of i>y those who have tasted it in warm climates ; but it has not much flavour in
4926. The Custard A p p le (Anòna r e ticu là ta ). A lligator A p p le (A. p a lù s tr is ), Sweetsop (A. sq u am ó sa ),
ancl Soursop (A. m u r ic a ta ), are esteemed West Indian fruits. All these plants are already in our stoves
and have produced fruit. ’
4927. The M am m c eT r e e { ìd am m è a am e r icà n a E . ; P o ly d n . Monog. L. and G u ttife r a 3 .) is a tail handsome
tree, with oval, shimng, leathery leaves, and one-flowcred peduncles, producing sweet white
Howers U m. m diameter, succeeded by roundish fruit, about the size of an egg, and in puln and taste
not unlike the apricot. It is eaten raw alone, or cut in slices with wine and sugar, or preserved in
sugar. It IS a native of the Caribbee Islands, and was cultivated in 1739 by Miller.
4928. P ro p a g a tio n a n d c u ltu r e . It may be raised from the stones or seeds, and treated like other stove
iruit tr<ms. It has been cultivated by Knight, who found it ra the r impatient of a very high temperature
{H o r t. T ra n s ., vol. m. p. 464.) ot o
4929. The Lee-chce a n d L o n g -y e n . T h e lee-chce is the E u p h ó r ia Litchi Desf. { L am . ill. t. 306) ; Octdn.
Monog. L. and S a p in d à c e a 3. It is a stove tree, with compound leaves, not unlike those of the common
ash tre e ; a native of China, and introduced in 1786. The fruit is a berry, of a red colour when ripe
except m one variety, which remains green : it is much esteemed by Europeans.
4930. T k e lo n g - y e n is the E . Longàna L am . {R u ch . ic. t. 99.). The tree resembles the former, but the
Iruit is not so large, and is of a light-brown colour. *• In both species the pulp of the fruit is surrounded
with a toiigh, thin, leathery coat ; it is a colourless, semitransparent substance; in the centre of which
18 a dark-brown seed of different sizes in the different varieties. The flavour of the pulp is slightly sweet
subacid, and particularly pleasant to the taste in a warm climate. The fruit of the lee-chee dried either
in the sun or by fire-heat, is frequently brought to England from China. In this state the pulp is
forivelled and reduced within the coat, or shell, to half its usual size, and has a rich and sweet taste if
It has been well preserved. The fruit of the long-yen has been ripened by John Knight, Esq. at Lee
Castle, in a lofty stove, erected for the purpose of growing tropical truits ; and a bunch was presented by
him fo th e Hort. Society, in September, 1816, supposed to be the only one ever produced in Europe
which persons well acquainted with the long-yen in its native places of growth pronounced quite as good
as those grown within or near th e tropics.” {H o r t. T ra n s ., vol. ii. p. 408.) It was also fruited in the
stoves a t Syon, by Mr. Forrest, in 1833.
4931. P ro p a g a tio n a n d c uU u r e . Both species may be raised from seeds or layers, and the plants may
be afterwards placed in a bed or area of rich soil, and trained or spread out near the glass. The temperature
should never be under that required by the pine-apple.
4932. The L o -q u a t is t\\Q í/lé spilus ja p ó n ic a L. {V en t, „
M a lm . 19. and I lo r t. T ra n s ., vol. iii. tab. 11.) E r io b ó tr y a "
ja p ó n ic a Lindl. ; Icos. D i-P e n i. L . and Tkosàcca; 3.
{ fig . 841.). In a wild state it is a lofty tree with thick
knobbed branches, and tomentose spray or branchlets ;
th e leaves are narrow, a span long, bright-green and
cinereous tomentose below. The flowers come in spikes
at the end of the shoots in October and November. The
fruit IS a five-celled pome, about the size of a gooseberry,
and in taste approaching to that of the apple. It ripens
in May and June. It is a native of Japan, and was introduced
in 1787 to Kew Gardens, where, as well as in some
other places, it has produced fruit.
4933. P ro p a g a tio n a n d cu ltu r e . It may be raised from
seeds, or continued by cuttings or layers ; but the best
method, when it is intended to produce fruit, is to graft it
on any other species of mespilus. It is considered as a
frame or half-hardy tree ; but, to ripen its fruit with
flavour, it should have the temperature of the stove, in
which, planted in a border of rich soil, it will add to the
variety of the dessert. Sir Joseph Banks (H o r t. T ra n s
vol. i.) considers the fruit as equally good with that of the
mango. Lord Bagot, who has fruited the plant in a very
f l
■'ré' vtol