422 FETCH : 



Tiie Peradeniya tree bore fruit for the first time in 1900. 

 In 1902 a single fruit was recorded, which had not ripened by 

 tlie end of the year. In 1906 it produced four fruits. In 1908 

 it bore " a good crop," but all the seeds sown failed to germinate. 

 In 1909 it was said to have borne a larger number of fruits 

 than in any previous year, and plants were raised from the 

 seeds. In 1912 about forty fruits were produced. This tree 

 flowers in May-July, and the fruits remain on the tree at 

 least through the next flowering season. A fruit of the season 

 May-July, 1912, fell in September, 1913. As a rule, however, 

 the fruits are gathered when they are about a year old. 



The Henaratgoda tree is now (August, 1913) about 65 ft. 

 high, and measures 6 ft. 11 in. in girth at a height of 3 ft. 

 from the ground. It is only sparingly branched, and practi- 

 cally all the branches are on the upjDer half of the stem, i.e., 

 above 30 ft. from the ground. Below that there are only 

 three branches. These three lower branches are drooping, but 

 the remainder are directed upwards. Tliis arrangement of the 

 branches gives the tree quite a different appearance from that 

 of the Peradeniya specimen, but it is probably accounted for 

 by the fact that the former is surrounded by tall trees, and the 

 lower branches may have been suppressed in consequence. 



Tlie Peradeniya tree stands in practically an open situation. 

 It 'is about 45 ft, in height, and measures 6 ft, 6 in. in circum- 

 ference at 3 ft. from the ground. It bears a large number 

 of branches, the lowest of which spring from the stem at a 

 height of about 3 ft. 6 in. from the ground. All the branches 

 on the lower half of the stem droop, and the lowest of them 

 almost touch the ground at their extremities. In consequence 

 the tree is so clothed with foliage that the trunk is hidden. 



The Brazil nut of commerce is usually said to be the produce 

 of Bertholletia excelsa. The genus Bertholletia was established 

 in 1808 by Humboldt and Bonpland for the single species B. 

 excelsa, and it was stated by the latter author that the Brazil 

 nut was the seed of that species, Miers, however, in his paper 

 on the Lecythidaceae, published in 1874, held that there 

 were two species of Bertholletia, and tiiat the Brazil nut was 

 obtained, not from B. excelsa, but from the other species, which 

 he named B. iiobilis. The question has recently been discussed 



