94 Three Young Crusoes 



a smooth, purplish fruit about the size and shape of 

 an apple, with a rather peculiar flavor. When cut 

 crosswise, the brown seeds showed conspicuously in 

 a central star of jelly, surrounded by a pulp colored 

 like crushed raspberry and cream. 



The sweet-sop, or sugar-apple, was found to be 

 entirely different from the star-apple, being some- 

 what larger, green in color, and yery rough in ap- 

 pearance, resembling a small pineapple with its 

 crown oi leaves cut off. It was a favorite in the 

 family, especially among the younger members, be- 

 cause of its sweetness. 



It was a great pleasure to watch these trees grow 

 and blossom and ripen their fruit from season to 

 season, and it was no less pleasant to eat the var- 

 ious fruits when ripe and enjoy their novel and at- 

 tractive flavors. Edna also experimented a good 

 deal with preserves,, sweet pickles, candied fruits, 

 and jellies, greatly to the satisfaction of the entire 

 family. There was nothing the monkey and Snow- 

 ball would not do for her on "preserving days." 



There were also some beautiful shrubs in the yard, 

 among them elder, crape myrtle, oleander, croton, 

 purple dracaena, the Chinese rose, or shoeblack, with 

 large pink flowers, and the jatropha, with rose-col- 

 ored flowers. These were all planted for ornament. 



