A C H 



A C H 



ACHRAS, a genus comprehending the Sapota 

 Tree or Mammee Sapota, an exotic, which in its 

 native situation rises to the height and size of a 

 large tree; but when cultivated in the stove in 

 this climate seldom exceeds that of a shrub. 



It belongs to the class and order Hexandria 

 Monogynia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 Duynosce. 



The characters are: that the calyx is a perian- 

 thium, consisting of six ovate, concave, erect 

 leaflets, the outer broader and shorter, and the 

 inner coloured : the corolla isone-petalled, ovate, 

 of the same height with the calyx, with the 

 border cut into six subovate flat divisions, and 

 scales at the jaws of the corolla, equal in length 

 to the divisions, narrower, spreading, and emar- 

 ginate : the stamina have six short awl-shaped 

 filaments at the jaws of the corolla, alternate 

 with the divisions, bent inwards : the antherse 

 are sharp : the pistillum has a roundish, flatted 

 germen : the style is awl-shaped, and longer than 

 the corolla ; and the stigma is obtuse : the peri- 

 carpium is a globose, very succulent pomum 

 with twelve cells : the seeds are solitary, ovate, 

 shining, scarred on one side, and pointed at the 

 base. 



There are several species ; but those cultivated 

 in the stove in this country* are, 1. A. Sapota, 

 Common Sapota Tree • 2. A. Mamosa, Mam- 

 mee Sapota. 



The first is a tall tree without branches to a 

 considerable height; spreading out in the head 

 with numerous small branches growing rather 

 thick and close together : the bark is of a 

 darkish gray colour, thick, rough, and chopped. 

 The leaves are large, oblong, and ovate. The fruit 

 is round and smooth, bigger than that of the 

 quince ; the rind thick, gray, becoming yellow 

 and tough when ripe: the flesh is also of a yel- 

 lowish colour, having two large rough flat stones 

 in the middle : the taste and smell are very fine. 



The second is likewise a tall straight-growing 

 tree with ash-coloured bark, the branchescoming 

 off on every side so as to constitute a regular 

 head : the leaves are spear-shaped, nearly a foot 

 in length, having often the breadth of three inches 

 in the middle: the flowers are cream-coloured, 

 and succeeded by large oval or top-shaped fruit, 

 with a brownish cuticle or covering, beneath 

 which is a thickish pulp of a russet colour and 

 luscious taste, frequently called, from its resem- 

 blance to the quince, Natural Marmalade. This 

 tree is often cultivated in the gardens in many of 

 the West-India islands for the sake of the fruit. 



Culture. — These, trees arc not capable of being 

 preserved in this climate unless attended to 

 with great care, and kept in the warmest and 

 best regulated stoves. Each of these species 

 may be propagated by planting the stones : but 



as they do not keep well when taken out of the 

 fruit, this should be done in their native situ- 

 ations as soon as they are removed, in tubs of 

 good mold placed so as to have the advantage 

 of the morning sun, the earth being kept con- 

 stantly well watered. On the plants appearing 

 they should be well protected from the attacks 

 of insects, and from being injured by weeds. 

 When about a foot in height they may be sent to 

 this country in the early part of the summer, in 

 order that they may make good root before the 

 winter sets in. A little water should be occa- 

 sionally given them in their passage while in a 

 hot climate ; but as they advance towards a cold 

 one this should be applied more sparingly, care 

 being taken to guard them well from being 

 destroyed by the salt water. On their arrival thev 

 should be carefully removed from the tubs, with 

 a little of the mold about their roots, and placed 

 in pots of fresh earth, in order to be plunged in 

 moderate bark hot-beds, shading the glasses 

 when the weather is hot with mats until they 

 have taken new root, not giving them too much 

 water at first, particularly if the earth they came 

 in be moist, as too much water injures the plants 

 before they are well rooted ; but afterwards they 

 should be often refreshed with water, especially 

 in hot weather. And they should have the air 

 freely admitted to them, in order to prevent the 

 attacks of insects upon them. When insects 

 seize them they should be carefully removed by 

 means of a sponge, otherwise the plants will be 

 greatly injured in their growth. 



During the winter season they are to be planted 

 in the warmest parts of the stove, and in very 

 cold weather have but little water given them, 

 though occasionally refreshed with it when the 

 earth is become dry. When they retain their 

 leaves during this season, a larger proportion of 

 water will, however, be necessary than where the 

 contrary is the case. As the plants advance in 

 size they are to be removed into larger pots; but 

 care should be taken not to overpot them, as by 

 that means they are very liable to be destroyed. 



Plants of this kind have but little merit, ex- 

 cept for the variety which they afford, as it is 

 necessary to keep them constantly in the heat of 

 the stove. 



ACHYRANTHES, a genus the plants of 

 which are mostly herbaceous, somewhat shrubby, 

 perennials of the tender exotic kind. 



It belongs to the class and order Pe/itandria 

 Monogynia, and ranks in the natural order of 

 Ainaranthi. 



The characters of which are : that the calyx 

 consists of an outer perianthium, that is three- 

 leaved, lanceolate, acute, permanent ; and of an 

 inner one that is five-leaved and permanent: 

 it has no corolla: the ncctarium has five valves 

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