1439 



eaten, has the peculiar property of making the most 

 sour and acidulous substances seem intensely sweet, 

 so that citric or tartaric acids, lime juice, vinegar, 

 and all sour immature fruits eaten thereafter taste 

 as if they were composed wholly of saccharine matter. 

 The duration of this effect depends upon the amount 

 of berries eaten, and the degree of maturity they have 

 attained; when a sufficient quantity has been taken, 

 their influence is commonly perceptible throughout 

 the day. This peculiar principle, however, is soon 

 dissipated if the fruits are allowed to remain in a 

 ripe condition for any length of time; preserved 

 fruits brought to England not only lost this property, 

 but became extremely insipid. The natives of the Gold 

 Coast often use them to render their stale and acidu- 

 lated kankies (maize bread) more palatable, and to 

 give sweetness to sour palm wine and pitto (beer made 

 from maize.) (Adapted from Pharmaceutical Journal, 

 vol. 11, p. 446.) 



Vitex gran di folia (Verbena'ceae) , 47220. Oricta. From 

 Southern Provinces, Nigeria. Seeds presented by Mr. 

 A. H. Kirby, Asst. Director of Agriculture, Ibadan. 

 Near the River Nun, Vitex grandifolia is a small tree 

 with the habit of an Aralia, growing to a height 

 of 25 feet. In Akwapim it is a shrub, 10 feet in 

 height, with cream-colored flowers, found at an eleva- 

 tion of 1,000 feet. The fruit is edible, about the 

 size of a small plum; it is made into a kind of honey. 

 The wood is used for making large drums . (Adapted from 

 Kew Bulletin, Useful Plants of Nigeria, Part 3, p. 526.) 



