305 



Olea euro pea, the Olive, has 21 Spanish and 13 French varieties. 

 One tree at Villefranche produced in good seasons from 200 to 

 230 pounds of oil. On the Australian coast the tree does well : 

 I have seen there mere bushes planted in the public grounds at 

 Adelaide, bearing profusely, and on the other hand I have a tree 

 of the most esteemed variety from Sta. Barbara planted in mv 

 garden in 1896 forty-two inches round a foot from' the ground, 

 and thirty-five feet high, that has never even blossomed. The 

 general opinion has been that the olive will not fruit on these 

 islands, but I am glad to hear that Wahiawa, which brings us so 

 many good things, has fruited olives of good quality. Another 

 species. Oka paniculata, is frequently cultivated here for orna- 

 ment, and fruits readily, but these are not edible. Neither is the 

 fruit of the Chinese favorite, Olea fragrans, which should be bet- 

 ter known here for its fragrance which pervades whole villages in 

 the flowering season and gives flavor to many a chest of tea. 



Sola nil in nodiflornni, the Popolo, is eaten by Hawaiians and 

 cultivation might render it more agreeable to European taste. 



Lycopersiciini escnlentum, the Tomato, or as it was called when 

 first brought from tropical America, little more than two genera- 

 tions ago. Love Apple, was cultivated as an ornamental plant, 

 later as a vegetable, until it has won its way to the position of a 

 dessert or salad fruit. The small globular variety has run wild hi 

 these islands and is a pleasant subacid fruit. 



Physalis pernviana, the Poha, still another of the Solanum fam- 

 ily, attains its greatest perfection on the high plateau of Hawaii 

 around the ruins of the Ahua IJmi. 



Piper Betle of the Pepper family is allied to the Awa and cer- 

 tainly is not a fruit, but a leaf, still in combination with the fruit 

 of the Areca palm it forms a delectable mixture used by almost 

 the entire Malay race. 



Myristiea fragratis, the Nutmeg, grows well in Honolulu and 

 a fine tree stood in the garden of Judge John ^lontgomery — now 

 the St. Louis School. Unfortunately the people of the school, 

 not knowing what it was, cut it down to make room for some 

 school building. 



Persea gratissiuia, the Palta or Avocado Pear, of the Laurel 

 family, is now commonly cultivated all over the group. The fruit 



