The Jack Tree. 157 



being prejudicial, seems to be actually beneficial to 

 the coffee-plant ; next, it is a sub-soil feeder ; then 

 it produces a fruit much valued as food by the 

 natives ; its timber is also valuable, whether for 

 cabinet-making or building purposes ; and, finally, it 

 flourishes best precisely in those situations where 

 its shade is most required. Known to botanists as 

 the Artocarpus integrifolia, the Jack grows to a 

 large size ; it resembles and belongs to the same 

 family as the bread-fruit tree. The timber, when 

 newly cut, is of a light yellow colour, possesses a 

 beautiful grain, and is capable of a high polish, not 

 greatly inferior to that of mahogany or satin-wood, 

 both of which it also resembles to a certain extent 

 in grain and colour, after having been polished. 

 The fruit is as large as a pumpkin, and weighs from 

 twenty to thirty pounds, containing from 200 to 

 300 seeds, which, though somewhat unpleasant in 

 smell when raw, are converted by being roasted 

 or boiled into a wholesome and agreeable fari- 

 naceous food, always much appreciated by the 

 coolies. 



The Loquat tree is planted along the road-sides 

 on many of the estates in the Wynaad and else- 

 where, and coffee appears to thrive well under it ; 

 but, so far as I am aware, the wood is not of any 

 value, which at once places it at a disadvantage in 

 competing with the Jack. The loquat yields a 



