OTHER SEMITROPICAL FRUITS 407 



is usually seedless, and is readily propagated from cuttings. There 

 are thriving plants in many protected places in the State, and some 

 fruit reaches the market, but few seem to like the flavor, which is 

 something like a tomato and melon mixed. Its greatest use will 

 probably be for salads. 



THE MELON TREE 



The melon pawpaw (Carica papaya) has been widely intro- 

 duced experimentally in this State, and many situations are found 

 unfitted for its growth, but satisfactory fruiting has been secured 

 at several places in Southern California ; especially if protected the 

 first year it will stand light frosts afterwards. It ripens fruit the 

 third year from the seed the fruit being pleasant to eat as one 

 would a muskmelon. The large fig-like leaves and the peculiar 

 markings of the trunk make the tree a very striking object. 



THE PRICKLY PEAR 



The tuna, or fruit of the cactus (Opuntia vulgaris), is produced 

 in nearly all parts of the State except on the mountains. It was 

 one of the old mission fruits, and was enjoyed by the early mining 

 population until better fruits were available. It is about as large 

 as a medium-sized pear, and has a pleasant acid flavor if one suc- 

 ceeds in escaping the prickles in getting at the interior of the fruit. 

 The tuna is still a commercial article in a small way.* Plants are 

 grown readily from cuttings of the fleshy leaves. 



Quite a distinction must now be made between the foregoing 

 and the smooth or spineless fruits, which are superior in quality as 

 well as unarmed with prickles, and therefore readily handled and 

 eaten. Varieties more or less innocent in this respect were intro- 

 duced from the Mediterranean region many years ago, and propa- 

 gated to a limited extent. Recently Mr. Luther Burbank of Santa 

 Rosa has undertaken special work with the cactus, both for fruit- 

 age and forage purposes, and has attained remarkable results. 



THE WHITE SAPOTA 



There are two old trees in Santa Barbara, one believed to have 

 survived from the mission planting in the early part of the last 

 century, the other half as old, of the white sapota (Casimiroa 

 edulis). Dr. Franceschi commends the tree for every garden in 

 which only light frosts are to be expected. Mr. Taft reports the 

 sapota as bearing well with him in Orange County. The tree is 

 an exceedingly rapid grower, much after the habit of the walnut, 

 but evergreen. In August and September the peach-like fruit, 

 greenish yellow, with large seeds shaped like those of an orange, 

 matures well and is excellent, this being the normal season for 

 ripening. At other times fruit is often found, but is apt to be 



*"The Tuna as food for man," by David Griffiths, Bulletin 116, Bureau of Plant In- 

 dustry. 



