A. FE. Verrill—The Bermuda Islands. 637 
grape. Some more resistant varieties or species might be more 
successful. 
Grapes were mentioned in a law of 1627, 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-. 532.) 
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 Geert.) 
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. (Blighia sapida Ken.) 
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. 
