CL. V.J FRUIT OF THE PASSION-FLOWER. 69 



prolonged in that way. Perhaps this may be the case in 

 the trees, such as apples, that have come under their 

 notice ; and the reason that the varieties die out after a 

 certain time, if not reproduced from seed, may be that the 

 vigour of the trees is at last used up by the production 

 of mature seed, but that in the seedless bananas, pine- 

 apples, and bread-fruits this does not happen. 



Figs grow well in Nicaragua, and by many their 

 luscious fruit is preferred to all others. My trees suffered 

 greatly from the attacks of a large and fine longicorn 

 beetle (Tceniotes scalaris, Fab.), which laid its eggs in the 

 green bark, from which issued white grubs that mined 

 into the stem. I had to dig down to them with a knife 

 to extricate them and prevent them destroying the young 

 trees. We were surrounded at a short distance by the 

 forest, in which grow many species of wild fig-trees ; and 

 this probably was the reason that my trees suffered so 

 much, for at Granada the fig-growers were not troubled 

 with this insect. 



The grenadilla is the fruit of one of the passion- 

 flowers (Passiflora quadrangularis), and is shaped like a 

 large oblong apple, which it also resembles in perfume. 

 It makes fine tarts and puddings, being somewhat like 

 the gooseberry in taste. I had much difficulty in pre- 

 serving it from being eaten by small forest rats that 

 came out of the woods, where they had already been 

 accustomed to eat the wild fruit of this climber. 



The moist, warm climate seemed to suit the papaw 

 iree, as it grew with great vigour, and produced very 

 large and fine melon-like fruits. The green fruits are 

 excellent for making pastry, if flavoured with a little 

 lime-juice. 



