36 

 GRAPE FRUIT AND SHADDOCKS. 



The following popular notes on varieties of grape fruit and 

 shaddocks, by Sir Daniel Morris, K.C.M.G., D.Sc, D.C.L., appeared 

 in Garden and Forest, an American horticultural journal published 

 at New York, April 22, 1896. Recently applications for information 

 in regard to the respective merits of grape fruits and shaddocks 

 were received from the Board of Agriculture in the Bahamas and 

 other sources, and with the view of placing the facts on record in 

 an accessible form, they were reprinted in the pages of the West 

 Indian Bulletin* and are now reproduced here : — 



During my recent visit to New York I was much interested to 

 notice the considerable demand that existed there for grape fruit,t 

 from the West Indies. It appears to be very strongly recommended 

 by the medical faculty for its refreshing and tonic properties, and, 

 in consequence, the use of it has become an important feature in 

 the diet in American cities. The fruit I saw in New York called 

 grape fruit consisted of various sorts and qualities, and there is 

 little doubt that much confusion exists as to what is really grape 

 fruit as distinct from the allied citrus fruits passing under such 

 names as Pumelow^, Shaddock, Forbidden fruit, Paradise fruit and 

 others. The chief characteristics of all these fruits, distinguish- 

 ing them from the different varieties of the orange, are associated 

 with the size and colour. They are all, or nearly all, larger than 

 the largest orange, and they are uniformly of a pale-yellow colour. 

 In texture the rind may be smooth or even polished. It is seldom 

 rough, nearly always firm and not very thick. The pulp is pale 

 yellow or greenish-white, sometimes pink or crimson. The vesi- 

 cles of the pulp (juice bags) are more distinct than in the orange ; 

 very juicy, somewhat sweetish with a distinct, but agreeable, bit- 

 ter flavour. The pith surrounding the segments possesses more 

 of the bitter then the pulp, but is less agreeable, and on that ac- 

 count is never eaten. In shape these fruits vary a good deal. 

 Some are quite globular, others somewhat flattened at the top and 

 tapering below, forming a pear-shaped body. Even in the globu- 

 lar fruits the top is more or less flattened. There are none, I be- 

 lieve, pointed at both ends. 



Having indicated the general characters of this class of citrus 

 fruits, I may venture on a brief sketch of their origin and history. 

 It is agreed by all authorities that these fruits are quite distinct 

 from the other groups of the orange family, such as the true 

 oranges and the citrons. They have, therefore, been kept apart 

 and ranged under the Giant Citrus, Citrus decumana. In this species 

 the tree is 12 to 18 feet high, with a flat crown and spreading 

 branches, usually with no spines. The leaves are elliptic-rounded 

 at both ends, emarginate (that is, with a notch at the apex) and 

 crenulate (having the edge marked with small depressions) ; 



* From West Indian Bulletin, VI., 1905, page 284. 



t It is so called because the fruits grow in clusters like n bunch of grapes. 



X It is invariably spelled Pomelo in the Unitad States. 



