THE ALLIGATOR APPLE. 385 



was early introduced into England, but has not come 

 into cultivation as a tVuit tree. 



The Cherimoyer (Anona cherimolia) is a native of 

 the continent of America ; and in Peru it is ac- 

 counted one of the best fruits they have. Humboldt 

 speaks of it with hin;h praise; but Feuillee, another 

 traveller in South America, says an European pear 

 or plum is worth all the Cherimoyers of Peru. The 

 tree which produces this fruit has a trunk about ten 

 feet high ; the leaves are oval, and pointed at both 

 ends •, the flowers are solitary, very fraorant, and of 

 a greenish colour ; the fruit of considerable size, 

 somewhat heart-shaped, rough on the outside, and 

 grayish brown, or even nearly black, when ripe. The 

 flesh, in which the seeds are contained, is soft, sweet, 

 and pleasant, and highly esteemed both by natives 

 and foreigners. It has been introduced into England 

 for about a centurv, but not oiltivated as a fruit tree. 

 In the south of Spain it is occasionally found in gar- 

 dens, where it bears its fruit as an orchard-tree. 



The Sweet sop {Anona squaniosa) is a very small 

 tree, being, in many situations, little better than a 

 bush. It is found both in the East and the West 

 Indies. The fruit is almost the size of the head of 

 an artichoke, scaly, and of a greenish yellow colour. 

 The rind is strong and thick ; but the pulp is deli- 

 cious, having the odour of rose-water, and tasting 

 like clotted cream mixed with sugar. It is, like 

 many other fruits, said to have a much finer flavour 

 in the Indian Archipelago than in the West Indies. 

 It, too, was early known in England, but has not 

 become general. 



The Alligator apple {Anona pabistris) grows wild 

 in the marshes of Jamaica. The fruit is shining and 

 smooth in appearance, and sweet and not unpleasant 

 to the taste ; but it is a strong narcotic, and, there- 

 fore, not generally eaten. One thing worthy of 



2l3 



