INTRODUCED PLANTS AND AXDIALS. 263 



shaped, and are filled with sweet pidp in which are embedded the bean-like seeds. 



The papaya is an interesting- example of a dio-cious plant, as it has the male 

 and the female Howers on separate plants. The edible fruit is produced by the 

 female tree, as a rule. It is therefore desirable, in order to insure the best crop 

 of fruit, to plant a number of trees of both sexes in close proximity. 



There are a nimiber of varieties under cultivation, all of which are known 

 Ideally as papaya. While it is usually a small, short-lived tree with a single, 

 stout, unbranched trunk, crowned with a cluster of leaves, there are many old 

 specimens thirty feet or more in height that so differ in appearance that only 

 the characteristic leaves prevent them from being mistaken for some rare species 

 of curious tropical plant. 



It is extensively grown in the tnipjrs. and may now he found wherever climate 

 and conditions are favorable. The milky juice of the plant has a i.roperty 

 similar to, though different from that of pepsin. If tough meat is wrajijied in 

 the fresh leaves for a short time it will become tender. The seeds also possess 

 valuable properties as a vermifuge. 



GU.WA. 



Several species of giuiva thrive here. They grow from seed so readily 

 aud spread so rapidly that the lemon-guava,' ' at least, is no longer cultivated. 

 In many sections this species forms dense thickets. As it fruits alnuidinitly at 

 nearly all .seasons at different elevations it furnishes a refreshing fruit that 

 may be enjoyed on mountain rambles. 



Of the 130 species known several are well established in Hawaii, but aside 

 from the common lemon-guava and the smaller red strawberry-guava,** the 

 other species are rarely met with. The fruit is supposed to be more agreeably 

 acid and hence more palatable if gathered in the early morning. The lemon- 

 guava. besides being a rich, aromatic fruit, makes fine jam, guava whip, and 

 jelly, the latter being one of the finest-flavored jellies known. In spite of this 

 fact comparatively little of it is manufactured, and thousands of tons of the 

 fruit waste every year. This acid \egetable material, however, when added to the 

 lava soils of Hawaii is a decided benefit to the land. Since the bushes grow on 

 all kinds of soil under widely varying conditions the wedge-work done by their 

 roots has proven a decided help in opening up the more resistant soils. 



Lemons, Oranges and Limes. 



The orange'" is one of the oldest of cultivated fruits; although its nativity 

 is not known, it probably originated in the Indo-Chine.se region. It is now 

 widely distributed and just whether it was introduced into these islands by 

 the natives themselves or by the earliest explorers will probably not be definitely 

 known. Vancouver is generally accredited with its introduction, as in 1792 

 he came from Tahiti, where it had long grown, having received a large store of 

 supplies from the natives there. Arriving on Hawaii he left with the native 



' Psidium Gvayava. ^^ P.^iUlii(ni Cutttri/unuii 



