HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



! 49 



two species ; for while this is naturally prepared, that 

 from C. Camphora is obtained by artificial means. 

 It possesses the same properties as the produce 

 of Cinnamomum, although it does not evaporate so 

 readily at ordinary temperatures, and its crystals are 

 of a different form. It does not find its way into this 

 country, as it is eagerly bought up by the Chinese at a 

 most exorbitant price, exceeding many times the value 

 they receive for their own produce, although, in the 

 eyes of the European, it is of no greater value. But 

 the Chinese attribute many and excellent virtues to 

 it for which they are ready to pay, and who would 

 fcrbid them enjoying the opinion at their own cost? 



The Papaw-Fruit (Fig. 168). — This is produced 

 by Carica Papaya, Linn., belonging to the family 

 Papayacetz. It is now widely distributed and cultivated 

 throughout all tropical countries, but there is no doubt 



Fig. 168.— Fruit and Leaf of Carica Papaya, Linn, (reduced.) 



it emanated originally from the Western hemisphere, 

 as students of the new world flora now regard it as a 

 native of Tropical South America. It is a small tree, 

 seldom exceeding twenty feet in height, with a straight 

 unbranched stem, about a foot in diameter at the base, 

 where it is moderately hard, but soft and spongy at the 

 top, and hollow in the centre. The leaves are situ- 

 ated at the top of the stem, on long petioles, diverging 

 almost horizontally from the stem ; the blade is as 

 much as two feet in diameter, deeply cut into seven 

 lobes with their margins again cut and sharp pointed. 

 Flowers in racemes produced at the base of the leaf- 

 stalks. Fruit oblong, from eight to ten inches long, 

 three to four broad ; or shaped like a melon with 

 projecting angles, of a dull orange-yellow colour 

 when ripe. The fruit is edible, but rather insipid, 

 and is eaten raw in small quantities, but largely 

 consumed in many parts, when cooked and flavoured 



with salt, pepper, and sugar; it is also employed 

 in sauces, antl preserved in sugar, especially in 

 the West Indian Islands. The unripe fruits are 

 also pickled, and boiled and eaten as a vegetable 

 prepared in a similar way as turnips are in this 

 country. Throughout the latter part of the globe, 

 the juice of the tree, or an infusion of the fruit and 

 leaves, has a remarkable reputation for rendering 

 the toughest meat tender, as it possesses the power 

 of separating the muscular fibre. Sir Joseph Hooker 

 says " the whole tree possesses this remarkable pro- 

 perty." The exhalations emanating from it also have 

 the same power, and fresh meat hung up in the 

 branches is made tender in a surprisingly short space 

 of time. This practice is largely resorted to in the 

 West Indies. It is also stated that if old hogs and 

 poultry are fed with the fruit and leaves their flesh 

 is rendered extremely tender. The juice of the 

 fruit is used by ladies as a cosmetic for removing 

 freckles from the face, but its most important are its 

 vermifugal properties, it being largely employed as 

 an effective vermifuge ; it is also antiseptic. 



According to the analysis of the juice by Vacquelin, 

 it contains fibrine, a substance characteristic of all 

 animal tissues, but which occur in other vegetable 

 tissue besides that of the Papaw. The root has a 

 very strong and disgusting odour, similar to that of 

 decaying radishes, and is very acrid, a clear indication 

 of the vermifugal character of the juice. The leaves 

 are employed by the negroes as a substitute for soup. 

 So the uses of the plant are manifold, and for other 

 details respecting it I must refer my readers to the 

 "Botanical Magazine," 2S98, where a good plate is 

 given. The plant itself is also cultivated in the 

 Royal Gardens, Kew. 



The acidity is infused, in a greater or less degree, 

 throughout all the species. In C. digitata, a Brazilian 

 species, known under the native name of Chamburu, 

 it is most prevalent, and the tree is regarded by the 

 natives of Mayna with as much dread as the upas 

 tree by the Javanese ; in this instance with more 

 propriety, as its juice is very poisonous. Poppig says 

 " that the juice which spirted over his hand when he 

 cut the tree caused itching on the face, and drew a 

 few blisters on the hand." The male flowers are said 

 by Dr. Lindley to have the disgusting smell of human 

 excrement. And what is very remarkable is the 

 fact, that the fruit, although handsome, scentless, 

 and insipid, is untouched by birds or any other 

 creatures, except a species of ant belonging to the 



genus Atta. 



[To be continued.) 



Fresh-water Shells. — Mr. H. Wallis, Kew, 

 has sent me some shells identical with those found 

 by Mr. Goulding, attached to the feet of newts and 

 frogs and recorded in the October number as (?) Cyclas 

 lacustris. They prove to be Sphtzrium cor/icum, and 

 not S. lacustre (C. lacustris). It will be well to 

 record this, to prevent error. — T. D. A. Cockerel!. 



