A. E. Verrill — 77ie Bermuda Islands. 637 



grape. Some more resistant varieties or species might be more 

 successful. 



Grapes were mentioned in a law of 162V, against stealing fruit, and 

 at other dates, showing that they produced some fruit, as they do 

 now. Large and ancient white-grape vines, like those of Spain, still 

 exist, and are doubtless the direct descendants of those planted in 

 1616. 



The vine here loses its leaves in November and begins to put 

 out new ones in February, the bare period being about 120 days. 

 Governor Lefroy imported and distributed many of the best English 

 green-house varieties, some of which, in wet soil, bore large and fine 

 fruit, within three years. He also mentions that white Lisbon 

 grapes, washed ashore from a wreck, in January, 1873, germinated 

 on the beach ; some were successfully transplanted and bore fruit 

 in 1876. 



Probably it may be found that certain American hybrid grapes of 

 the south would be more suitable for the moist climate than the 

 white grapes of Southern Europe, but I do not know to what extent 

 they have been tried. (For the amount of grapes now raised, see 

 p. 5:i2.) 



The grape vines, like the orange trees and figs, have probably 

 suffered much from the unrecorded attacks of various insects and 

 parasitic fungi. 



Avocada Pear ; Alligator Pear. (Persea gratissima Gtert.) 



This fine fruit tree appears to have been introduced about seventy 

 years ago. It is now common in the larger grounds and gardens. 



Governor Lefroy stated that the finest tree on the islands (in 1876) 

 was one in the grounds at Mt. Langton, planted about 1835. 



It flowers in March and the fruit is in season from August to 

 October, or sometimes to November. Large fruits sometimes weigh 

 nearly two pounds. According to Governor Lefroy, it is more 

 highly prized in Bermuda than any other fruit. He also stated that 

 the trees are badly infested by a white coccus. 



This tree is native of tropical America. 



Akee. {JBlighia sapida Keen.) 



This sapindaceous tree is native of West Africa, but is cultivated 

 in the West Indies, whence it was brought to the Bermudas, but is 

 still rare. It flowers in July and ripens its fruits in November. The 

 fruit is red, three-sided, and about four inches long ; the black seeds 

 have a large, white, fleshy arillus, which is edible. 



