240 FLORIDA FRUITS OTHER TROPICAL FRUITS. 



It co ii tains one large seed or kernel ; the flavor of the 

 fruit surpasses that of the finest muskmelon, and on ac- 

 count of its rich, marrow-like, vegetable texture, is usually 

 eaten with pepper and salt, or lime juice mixed with sugar. 



There are three varieties of the avacado, the red, pur- 

 ple, and green, the latter being most highly esteemed. 



This tree is counted among the purely tropical fruits ; 

 but this is, in some degree, a mistake. It has been suc- 

 cessfully raised, without injury from even severe frosts, as 

 far north as Palatka, and this fact should be more widely 

 known. 



As simply a shade tree the avacado is beautiful, but 

 when to this is added the fact of a bountiful yield of fruit, 

 which sells readily at from six to eight cents a pound, or, 

 at the lowest, by the dozen at seventy-five cents, that the 

 tree will easily yield one thousand pounds annually, and 

 that it begins to bear when five years from the seed, it will 

 be seen that this is destined to become one of Florida's 

 favorites, so soon as its high qualities are better known. 

 The fruit ripens from August to October. 



Other fruits there are in abundance which will yet 

 become known as "Florida fruits," but at this present 

 writing are not sufficiently established or cultivated to be 

 of any commercial importance, although of no little value 

 to those whose location allows their culture. 



The field for experiment is wide, and we hope to see it 

 thoroughly tilled, not only by private enterprise but under 

 the more effectual direction of both our State authorities 

 and the General Government. 



