223 



Comparison of prices. 



Lowest price ; Cents. 



January 5, 1898 27J 



January 29, 1897 21 



Highest price: 



January 31, 189s 29 



January 4, 1897 - 23 



EBENACEAE. 

 Diospyros ebeuaster Retz. Zapote prikto. 



The fruit is also called "zapote negro/' The annual crop is valued 

 at $1*7,000. I did not see the fruit of this plant either used or sold, 

 although it is said to be cultivated in many places. Fruiting speci- 

 mens of a species probably the above were obtained at Aeaponeta at 

 an altitude of about 30 meters (100 feet). It has heretofore been 

 reported to grow at an altitude of 450 to 1,800 meters (1,500 to 0,000 

 feet), and it is not at all unlikely that more than one species goes 

 under this name. Two other specimens were collected — one at Altata 

 (at sea level) and the other at Colomas, altitude 750 meters (2,500 feet), 

 which seem to represent two very distinct species. 



VERBENACEAE. 

 Vitex mollis I L 13. K. Uvaeama. 



TJvalama, or better, perhaps, walama, is a small drupe which is very 

 common in the markets of the west coast at the close of the dry sea- 

 son. The fruit is black or bluish black, nearly spherical, and 15 to 20 

 mm. in diameter. It is eaten raw. (EB Xos. 112 and 113.) 



CUCURBITACEAE. 

 Cucurblta ficifolia Bouoh6. Chilacayote. 



The pulp of this fruit is boiled with sugar and used as a dessert. I 

 was told that the fruit is about 0.45 meters (1£ feet) long, with a hard 

 shell and a fibrous pulp. The seeds are black, resembling those of the 

 watermelon, but larger. The fruit is cut in two and the pulp is taken 

 out and cooked. The shell is filled with water and allowed to stand 

 and sour.. From this a vinegar is made which the people use in mak- 

 ing ;i kind of soda water. 



BEVERAGE PLANTS. 



The drinks of Mexico derived from plants are of the intoxicating 

 and the nonintoxicating classes. 

 Agave spp. Maguey. 



The intoxicating drinks are several, but the most important by far 

 are those made from the agave plants or magueys. Of these drinks 

 there are two classes, the fermented and the distilled. The fermented 

 drink is called pulque. It is largely used all over the country and 

 especially about the City of Mexico. The pulque plant ( Pis. XXXI to 

 XXXIII) is cultivated throughout the mountain regions and on the 

 table-lands. Almost every house has a, few plants growing near it 

 which supply pulque for the family. 



