266 NATURAL HISTORY OF HAWAII. 



and Chinese types i)f oranges bear astonishingly well, and should the trees be 

 more intelligently and extensively cultivated they would yield even more abund- 

 antly. 



The wi or Tahiti apple -' has a golden fruit that grows in clusters, on a tree 

 resembling the walnut in appearance. The t'l-uit. which is the size of a peach. 

 and has a curious seed, somewhat suggests the pineapple in flavor. It is a 

 native of the South ra-'itic islands and is now widely distributed in the tropics. 



The Custard Apple and Its Allies. 



The custard apph' genus. -'^ of which more than tifty species are known, is 

 represented in tlie islands l»y at least three common species that occur here and 

 there, usually as ornamental trees or curiosities in door-yards about the islands. 

 Included in this genus is the sour sop.-'' It comes from the West Indies, where 

 it is a favorite fruit. This thrifty green tree bearing a large conical heart- 

 shaped, green, spiney fruit, six to eight inches long and weighing as much as Ave 

 pounds, will be recognized at once by the novice. The white, soft, juicy, suli-acid 

 pulp of the fruit is used to some extent as a flavoring for sherbet and fruit punch. 



The sweet sop ^*^ bears a fruit resembling a short pine cone in shape that is 

 three or four inches in diameter, yellowish-green and tuberculate. The ]iul]i is 

 creamy-yellow, custard-like and very sw^eet. 



The custard apple,-'" a smooth fruit, is also a favorite in the West Indies, 

 which is probably its home. Both the custard apple and the sweet sop are worthy 

 of more attention in Hawaiian gardens. 



Cherimoya ^- is a thrifty tree coming originally from Peru, but now widely 

 naturalized. It is of comparatively recent introduction into Hawaii, the fruit 

 coming mostly from Kona. The fruits are slightly flattened spheres, two or 

 more inches in diameter, brownish yellow in color with the flesh soft, sweet and 

 rich in flavor. It is a well known fruit in the tropics. All three of the Anonas 

 just mentioned are easily propagated from seed and thrive in ordinary heavy soils. 



The sapodilla,-^-^ a tree of Central America, is much esteemed under the more 

 common name of Sapota pear. The fruit is the size and color of a small russet 

 apple. It is a firm fruit with ten or twelve compartments and as nuuiy large 

 black seeds. The flesh is sweet and pear-like in flavor. From the sap of the 

 tree cheAving-gum is made. 



The loquat '"^^ or Japanese plum, a native of China and Japan, is a snrill 

 tree with thick, evergreen, oval-oblong leaves that are covered with i-usty hair 

 beneath. It bears well in Hawaii, usually producing two crops each year, and 

 is an excellent decorative fruit. Tlie })efii'-shaped fruit is yellow with large seeds 

 and has a i)leasant flavor. It is extensively planted in southern California and 

 elsewhere in the southern states. 



Figs, Grapes and ^NFrLBERRiES. 

 Several varieties of figs •"'•'• are grown here, and but for the attacks of birvl< 



-'' Spoyidia.'! diilrix. -" J nono. -^ Anona miirirata. ^^ Annua Sgnamosn. ''^ Anot^a reticulata. 



^^ Ano7in f'hi-rbnoUa. ^^ Achras Sapota. ^* Eriobotryu Japnnica. ^^ Ficus Carica. 



