134 TROPICAL AGRICULTURE 



a brilliant crimson. The flavor of the fruit is acid and slightly 

 bitter and is considered agreeable by some and practically 

 worthless by others as a fresh fruit. It may be eaten either out 

 of hand or may be used in the manufacture of jams and 

 jellies. In India and Ceylon the fruit is quite widely used for 

 pickling and in preserves. The Natal plum contains about 12 

 per cent, of sugar. 



STAR APPLE 



The Star apple is a handsome tree, native of West Indies, 

 with unusually fine foliage, which is dark, shiny green above 

 and golden brown beneath. The botanical name of the tree 

 is Chrysophyllum cainito. There are several varieties of the 

 Star apple, some of which bear purplish and others green fruit. 

 The fruit is filled with a white and rather sticky latex until 

 ripe, when the jellylike pulp around the seed has an agree- 

 able sweet flavor. The name is due to the radiate or star- 

 like seed cavities which are conspicuous when the fruit is 

 cut across. The Star apple is not only a very satisfactory orna- 

 mental but the fruit is distinctly agreeable in flavor and 

 occupies a rather important place in the list of tropical fruits 

 which have not attained a commercial standing. North of the 

 Equator the fruit commonly ripens from February to April. It 

 may be safely held in cold storage and endures shipping very 

 well. The Star apple contains 2.3 per cent, protein and 4.5 

 per cent, sugar. 



DURIAN 



The durian (Durio zibethinus) is a large, handsome pyrami- 

 dal tree, native of the Malay Archipelago, and commonly 

 cultivated in the Oriental Tropics. The durian fruit is round 

 or oval and thickly armed with prickles. It is borne on the 

 older branches, is of a yellowish color when ripe, and of an 

 extremely offensive odor to all except those who have acquired 

 a taste for the fruit. The durian bears fruit twice a year. 



