Vegetables with Edible Fruits 213 



spilling out of the carrier. Each carrier should be filled 

 so as to require only a slight pressure on the lid of the 

 box at the time of nailing up. In this way roselle was 

 shipped from Florida to Washington. After reaching its 

 destination it was found to be in excellent condition for 

 making retail sales in that city. Roselle, when carefully 

 packed, may be sent by express from Florida to any point 

 east of the Mississippi river. 



Productivity. 



At one of the trials in California, three pounds of fruit 

 of roselle are said to have been produced by each plant. 

 It has been stated that a quarter of a bushel to a plant can 

 well be counted on in south Florida. The yield in Porto 

 Rico was estimated at four pounds of fruit to a plant, 

 and at double this amount in good sandy loam. Sixteen 

 pounds to a plant have been gathered in south Florida. 



Uses of roselle. 



The part used as a fruit consists of the red, juicy, swollen 

 calyx and involucel. This may contain about 87 per cent 

 of water, nearly 3 per cent of acids, and only 1 per cent 

 or less of sugars. The acids are said to consist of malic 

 and tartaric, with no citric. A cooling summer drink 

 is made from an infusion of the fruits of the roselle, its 

 natural bright-red color giving it an attractive appearance. 

 This drink is bottled in the West Indies. It keeps well if 

 no sugar is added, and if the bottles are sterilized by heat, 

 and sealed while hot. The abundant acid, the bright 

 cherry-red color, together with a plentiful supply of 

 pectins, render this plant a good jelly-maker. Roselle 



