THP: AMERICAN BOTANJST 65 



cording to the variety, or rather according to the individual 

 tree, for each seems to be a law unto itself. The fruit con- 

 tains a single very large seed of the shape and size of a 

 bov's peg top; this is surrounded with a pulp of delicate tex- 

 ture which almost melts in one's mouth — not sweet or acid, 

 but having a characteristic nutty flavor that commends it 

 highly to the educated palate. It is commonly eaten with 

 salt and pepper, with or without vinegar, often with a may- 

 onaise dressing, or in a sandwich with thin bread and butter; 

 frequently as an addition to bullion or consomme soups. 



The custard apple (Cherimoyer) is not much planted 

 in Honolulu, although the fruit sometimes comes into market 

 from other districts. The sour sop, a congener, you will 

 meet with more frequently, the tree with foliage somewhat 

 like that of the avocado, the large fruit, remaining green 

 when mature, covered with prickle-like scales. As in other 

 custard apples, the pulp contains scattered through it, numer- 

 ous brown seeds. It is fibrous and quite acid, resembling 

 cotton batting soaked with a solution of cream of tartar. 

 Few persons profess a fondness for it. 



Over arbors you will often see trained a vine of luxu- 

 riant growth, with ample, nearly round leaves and fragrant 

 dark purple flowers four inches or more in diameter, whose 

 multitudinous rays proclaim it a passion flower. Among the 

 leaves you will see here and there the large melon-like fruits, 

 oval, pale green, with a smooth skin, six or eight inches long. 

 This is the granadilla, one of the most delicious of tropical 

 fruits. The edible part is precisely that which is rejected in 

 the melon or papaya. Each seed is enveloped in a pulp 

 which is agreeably acid and of a characteristic pleasant flavor. 

 Only those with antiquated ideas about the cause of appen- 

 dicitis hesitate about partaking of the delicacy, for to remove 

 the seeds from the pulp would be a profanation. 



