444 FiKi.D Columbian Museum — Botany, Vol. I. 



1895, Spring Gardens has extensive plantations of cocoa, coffee, 

 mangoes, oranges, vanilla, etc. There is no doubt that the future 

 prosperity of the island depends largely on the growing of fruit. 



Besides bananas, pineapples, oranges, lemons, limes and coco- 

 nuts, a number of fruits not so commonly known are grown, making 

 St. Croix a fine field for the horticulturist or pomologist. Many of 

 these fruits have promising qualities that could be developed. The 

 guava {Fsidium) is well known as furnishing a most delicious preserve 

 and jelly. The trees thrive well in grass lands and spread rapidly. The 

 mango {Mangifera indica), of which there are a number of varieties, 

 is of much importance locally. Some varieties have a very strong 

 turpentine odor and taste, which in others is almost lacking. A 

 favorite way of eating the fruit, which is yellow in color, bean-shaped, 

 and about the size of a goose egg, is to knead it, then cut a hole in 

 the tough skin and suck out the semi-fluid contents. They thrive 

 well in moist localities and are very productive. The cashew 

 [Anacardium occidentale), which is one of the most attractive fruits, is 

 somewhat of the shape and size of a bell-pepper or pear and has a 

 bean-shaped nut at the lower end. The upper part is bright scarlet 

 or lemon-yellow, very shiny and smooth. It is juicy and sweet and 

 is very good stewed, resembling a sweet-apple conserve. The nuts 

 contain a very acrid oil which produces painful blisters. By roast- 

 ing, this oil is driven out and the kernel then becomes edible and has 

 the flavor of an almond. These trees thrive on the hillside and 

 places where there is a moderate amount of moisture. The mespel 

 {Sapota achras) of several varieties and sizes is grown, some being 

 spheroidal and others oval, or egg-shaped, about the size of an 

 apple; they have a russet-brown, scaly coat, and, when unripe, 

 possess an acrid, milky juice; the flowers emit an odor like " machine 

 oil." The fruit is plucked when it will snap off easily and is laid 

 away in a cool, dark place for a few days, when the juice loses its 

 milky and acrid nature and the fruit becomes very luscious and 

 sweetly astringent. They will bear shipping, and are sometimes 

 found in the New York markets. The kenep {Me/icocca ifijuga) is 

 very common, and, though not cultivated, there is a diversity in the 

 size and flavor of the fruits. The flowers are very delicately vanilla- 

 scented, and the fruit is borne in clusters like grapes, each fruit 

 being round or egg-shaped, green, shiny, and minutely warty. The 

 outer shell is about one-sixteenth of an inch thick, white inside, quite 

 brittle and free from the endocarp which is flesh-colored, somewhat 

 gelatinous, sour-astringent, and adhering to the large white seed. 

 The soursop {Anona muricatd) and custard-apple {Anona reticulata) 



