THE GRAFTED PAPAYA AS AN ANNUAL FRUIT TREE. 13 



although some of these might be decidedly more hardy. Carica 

 quercifolia is distinctly hardier than Carica papaya. Specimens of 

 it have borne fruit as far north as Chico, Cal. The plants have 

 been killed back to the ground every winter, but have quickly recov- 

 ered and have borne large quantities of small fruits the size of a 

 small plum. The mountain papaya (Carica candamarcensis) of Ecua- 

 dor, coming from an altitude of 9,000 feet in the Andes, is cultivated 

 quite extensively in the mountains of Ceylon, where occasional frosts 

 have been known to occur. The fruits of this species are quite 

 different from those of Carica papaya, being smaller and having a 

 refreshing acid flavor. According to Maemillan, 1 this species was 

 introduced into Ceylon in 1880 and is now commonly grown for the 

 sake of its fruit. It has gone wild about the bungalows in these 

 high altitudes. The fruits are in season all the year round, and 

 though too acid to be used for dessert are very agreeable when 

 stewed, and can also be made into jams and preserves. When ripe, 

 they have a pleasant applelike odor. 



It would seem, in conclusion, that this tropical tree crop, like 

 other tropical crops, needs an entire overhauling, and its develop- 

 ment as a grafted fruit should be undertaken as soon as possible. 



iMacmillan, H. F. Op. cit., p. 17:i. 

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