48 TROPIC DAYS 



summarily checked; the first flowers have been sniffed 

 with high delight, the first fruits sampled with extrava- 

 gant praise. Having bestowed upon trees care and 

 attention, while they were yet mere sprouts of tender 

 green, and admired their sturdy development, and 

 approved their best efforts, is it not yours to accept 

 whatsoever they offer as reward and recompense for 

 past labour and present appreciation ? 



From the artistic standpoint the most admirable of 

 all the citrus-trees is the pomelo, which, however, lacks 

 merit from the commercial side. The tree grows more 

 sedately than the orange or the mandarin, but on a 

 grander scale. The leaves are bigger, tougher, and the 

 appendages on either side of the stalk (which botanists 

 call the stipules) more developed. The blooms are 

 greater, and endowed with a much richer perfume than 

 the orange ; the fruit is huge and fragrant, though some- 

 what disappointing to the individual who expects the 

 sweetness of the mandarin; while, if the views of the 

 learned in such attributes are trustworthy it possesses 

 medicinal qualities which are foreign to its dainty, 

 diminutive relative. It would be mere affectation to 

 refrain from these compliments to the pomelo when the 

 atmosphere is saturated with the perfume from lusty 

 trees. Certainly one has to wait patiently for many a 

 long year ere his trees greet him with white flowers 

 which pour out perfume of rare density and enrich him 

 with golden fruit almost as big as footballs. From 

 nine to twelve years must elapse, but expectancy is not 

 wholly measurable by the arbitrariness of time. The 

 true standard is the desire, tempered by the patience of 

 the custodian of the trees. 



In August the pomeloes put on their most attractive 

 appearances. The young leaves of lively tint contrast 

 with the almost sombre green of the older foliage, and 



